Reductive elimination by remote electron transfer activation in C4-bridged titanocene-ferrocenyl complexes

Abstract

Of the new titanocene derivatives [Ti(CCCCR)₂(η⁵-C₅H₄R′)₂][R = ferrocenyl (Fc); R′= H 1, SiMe₃ 2; R = R′= SiMe₃ 3], 3 is inert towards electrochemical or chemical oxidation while both 1 and 2 readily release a formal reductive elimination product Fc(CC)₄Fc via initial oxidation of the Fc units, suggesting that the process is induced by electron transfer from the Ti–C fragment to Fc⁺ through the conjugated diacetylide bridges.