Molybdenum complexes containing ferrocenyl-functionalised arylimido ligands; crystal structure of 2,6-Pr 2i-4-Fc-C≡C-C 6H 2N(SiMe 3) 2

Abstract

The ferrocene-functionalised anilines 2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C 6H 2NH 2 ( 3a), 2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C 6H 2N(SiMe 3) 2 ( 3b), 2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C≡C-C 6H 2NH 2 ( 5a) and 2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C≡C-C 6H 2N(SiMe 3) 2 ( 5b) (Fc=ferrocenyl) have been prepared by Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. The crystal structure of 5b has been determined. The NSi 2 plane and the aryl ring plane form a dihedral angle of 89.8 °. The N atom is trigonal planar [C–N distance 1.459(4) Å]. The Cp ring and the aryl ring planes, which are connected by the C≡C spacer, form a dihedral angle of 85.8 °. 3a and 5a have been utilised for the preparation of the novel redox-functionalised imido complexes [Mo(N-2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C 6H 2) 2Cl 2(DME)] ( 6) and [Mo(N-2,6-Pr 2 i-4-Fc-C≡C-C 6H 2) 2Cl 2(DME)] ( 7) (DME=1,2-dimethoxyethane). Electrochemical investigations by cyclic voltammetry revealed a pronounced interaction between the respective N functional group and the ferrocenyl moiety for all six compounds, which is largest for 6.