FUNCTIONALIZED PENTAMETHYLFERROCENES - SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE, AND ELECTROCHEMISTRY

The advantageous properties of the Cp ligand - intensified electron d onation, steric bulk, and enhanced solubility in comparison to the ubi quitous Cp ligand - are finding increasing use in organometallic chemi stry. A systematic evaluation of synthetic routes to pentamethylferroc ene compounds with a wide range of functionalities, including carboxyl , carbonyl, aminomethyl, vinyl, ethynyl, fulvenyl, cyclopentadienylmet hyl, and others is reported, Spectroscopic, structural, and electroche mical properties of such functionalized pentamethylferrocenes Fc(/2)- R compared to those of non-methylated ferrocenes Fc-R. The electronic influence of the Cp ligand in these unsymmetrical ferrocenes Fc(*/2)- R has been studied by cyclic voltammetry measurements, demonstrating a decrease in oxidation potential of -0.276 V in direct comparison to n on-methylated ferrocenes Fc-R. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.