The Ruthenocenylmethylium Cation: Isolation and Structures of η5-Cyclopentadienyl-η6-fulvene-ruthenium(II) Salts

Abstract

Salts of the ruthenocenylmethylium cation, 1+, can be synthesized from the reaction of ruthenocenylmethanol with either Brønsted or Lewis acids. The X-ray crystal structures of the tetrakis{3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl}borate and trifluoromethanesulfonate salts of 1+ reveal that the methylium carbon is bound to the ruthenium with Ru−C bond lengths in the range 2.251(9)−2.40(1) Å and confirm the description of the cation structure as η5-cyclopentadienyl-η6-fulvene-ruthenium(II). The UV−vis spectrum of 1+ shows a d−d transition at an energy similar to those of ruthenocene and the η5-cyclopentadienyl-η6-benzeneruthenium(II) cation, but with increased absorptivity. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that 1+ is reduced at considerably less negative potential than its isomer, the η5-cyclopentadienyl-η6-benzene-ruthenium(II) cation. Chemical reduction with sodium amalgam in tetrahydrofuran leads to the formation of methylruthenocene, 1,2-bis(ruthenocenyl)ethane, and bis(ruthenocenylmethyl)ether. Reaction of 1+ with triphenylphosphine affords the (ruthenocenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium cation; the crystal structure of the dichloromethane solvate of its tetrafluoroborate salt has been determined. Density functional calculations closely reproduce the crystallographically determined geometry of 1+ and allow rationalization of some characteristics of its structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity. The calculations suggest that the ferrocenylmethylium cation, 3+, has a geometry similar to 1+ with similar orbital structure, albeit with considerably more d-character to the occupied frontier orbitals.