From Multifunctional Precursor to Novel Reaction Products: Oligimerization and Central Metal Ion Exchange Reaction of Ferrocenyl Carboxylate Complexes

Abstract

A distinctive multifunctional precursor complex Zn(bafca)2(phen)(H2O), 1 (bafca− = α-benzamido-β-ferrocenylacrylic carboxylate; phen = 1,10-phenantholine), is synthesized. As an acceptor, it takes part in the oligimerization to produce a novel decanuclear Zn(II) cluster, [Zn(OCH3)(HOCH3)(bafca)]10·8H2O, 1A; as a donor, it undergoes the unusual central metal ion exchange reaction, resulting in a new Cd(II) skeleton, [Cd(bafca)2(phen)]2·8H2O, 1B. X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that the molecule of 1A consists of a centrosymmetric ring comprised of 10 Zn(II) ions held together by 10 μ2-methoxide, 10 μ2-methanol, 10 1,3-bridging bafca− ligands. In the ring, the 10 zinc atoms are approximately coplanar and are coordinated in a distorted octahedral manner by six oxygen donor atoms. Compound 1A is the analogue of Lippard’s famous “ferric wheel” [Fe(OMe)2(O2CCH2Cl)]10 of bivalent metal ions ( J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 9629; 1994, 116, 823), and its synthesis proves that the bivalent metal ions can also ...