Electrochemical conversions of pentaphenyl(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopentadienederivatives

Redox processes of fluctuating pentaphenyl(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopentadiene derivatives on platinum electrode in acetonitrile are studied by cyclic vol tammetry. The reduction of derivatives of pentaphenyl-cyclopentadiene C5Ph5 M yields a radical anion which decomposes to anion M- and stable radical C5 Ph5. the latter reduces to C5Ph5-. In the first stage of oxidation of these compounds, a stable radical cation forms, with substituent M intact. Reduc tion of derivatives of pentamethoxycarbonylcyclopentadiene [C-5(CO2Me)(5)]M yields a dianion. Such electrochemical behavior of fluctuating cyclopentad iene compounds reveals additional information on the mechanism of displacem ent of the element-centered substituents M in them.