INVESTIGATION OF THE REDOX PROPERTIES OF POLYNUCLEAR LADDER COMPLEXESCONTAINING CR, MN, AND FE

The redox potentials of new Cr, Mn, and Fe polynuclear ''ladder'' comp lexes, )-Cp)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1),eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1) eta(5)-C5H4) Mn(CO)(3), (eta(5)-Cp)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1) eta(5)-C5H4)Mn(CO)(3), (eta(5)- Cp)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1),eta(6)-Ph)Cr(CO)(3), -Cp)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1),eta(5)-C 5H4)Fe(CO)(2)CH(2)Ph, (eta(5)-Cp)Fe(CO)(2)(eta(1),eta(6)-CH(2)Ph) Cr(C O)(3), were measured and the mechanism of their electrochemical oxidat ion and reduction was suggested. It was shown that the sigma- or pi-bo nds of the bridging ligand can be cleaved selectively by applying cath odic or anodic potentials, respectively. On the basis of the obtained electrochemical data, a mechanism is suggested for the rearrangement o bserved when the complexes are metallated by butyllithium.