Photo-induced translocation of a Pdn moiety (n = 2, 7) on a conjugated polyene ligand

Abstract

Extended contiguous multiple π-coordination (CMπC) bonds play key roles at the molecular interface between extended π-conjugated sp²-carbon frameworks and metal clusters. However, their bond-rearrangement behavior including metal-translocation on an extended sp²-carbon framework has not been well understood. We found that a Pd₂ moiety in a bis-tetraene sandwich complex shows metal-translocation either under thermal- or under photo-irradiation conditions, where the molar ratio of the isomers derived from metal-translocation is switchable through interconversion between the thermal equilibrium state and the photo-stationary state. Furthermore, an extended Pd₇ chain sandwich complex having extended μ₇-CMπC bonds undergoes metal-translocation on a carotene ligand under photo-irradiation conditions.