Redox potential and substituent effects in ferrocene derivatives: II

The anodic behavior of 31 ferrocene derivatives (FcX) (four of which have been prepared for the first time) of the types shown below has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (and, in some cases, also by controlled-potential electrolysis and differential pulse polarography) at a Pt electrode, in an aprotic solvent: Fc---C(Y)=Z (class A; Y = R (hydrogen, alkyl or unsaturated-carbon moiety) or Cl; Z = CRR′, derived functionalized groups or {W(CO)₅}); Fc---C(Y)=O (class B; Y --- R or OH); other types (class C, including azide, other unsaturated N moieties, acyloxy or phosphino); disubstituted ferrocenes (class D, with alkyl, aminoalkyl, phosphino, B(OH)₂ or −HGCl substituents, or the S---S---S bridge). All these substituted ferrocenes exhibit a one-electron reversible oxidation centered at iron and the effect of the substituents on the half-wave oxidation potential is discussed in terms of electronic properties. Using the accepted linear correlations between the half-wave oxidation potential and the Hammett constant σ_p of the substituent, σ_p was estimated for the first time for 29 of the substituents in the ferrocenes listed above. The anomalous behavior of complexes with a hydroxy or a carbonyl group is discussed. No correlation was observed between the oxidation potential and either the energy of the electronic absorption bands or the ¹H NMR chemical shift of the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring, although there are rough correlations for class A compounds. This behaviour is compared with those of Fc-CHYZ]. kw]Iron; Redox potentials; Ferrocenes; Electrochemistry; Substituent effects