1,5,9,13-Tetraselena[13]ferrocenophane: synthesis, complexation, crystallographic and electrochemical study

Abstract

A novel macrocyclic ferrocenophane, 1,5,9,13-tetraselena[13]ferrocenophane (L), was synthesized. Reaction of L with [M(NCMe)₄](PF₆)₂ (M = Pd and Pt) or [Cu(NCMe)₄](PF₆) led to complexes [ML](PF₆)₂ (M = Pd and Pt) or [CuL](PF₆). The Ag(I) cation induced the formation of a one-dimensional polymer {[AgL](PF₆)}_n due to its large ionic radius. The structures of L and its four complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical studies showed that, in [ML](PF₆)₂ (M = Pd and Pt), the half-wave potential of the 1,1′-ferrocenediyl group shifts to much more positive potentials due to the strong through-space interaction between the two metals (M⋯Fe).