Bis-(1,2-N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)dichlorosilane - structure and reactivity

The treatment of silicon tetrachloride with two equivalents of 2-dimethyl-a minomethylferrocenyl lithium (1), (FcN)Li, affords (R,S)-(FcN)(2)SiCl2 (3). Complex 3 was used as the starting chlorosilyl compound for reaction with MeMgCl to give (R,S)(FcN)(2)SiMe2 (4). Dimethyldichlorosilane reacts with t wo equivalents of 1 to form an isomeric mixture of 4 (meso) and (R,R-) and (S, S)-bis-(1, 2-N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)dimethylsilane. A detail ed characterization of 3 and 4 has been carried out by H-1-, C-13-, Si-29-N MR and Mossbauer spectroscopies. The structures of 3 and 4 have been determ ined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The redox behaviour of 3 and 4 has been studied by electrochemical techniques. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.