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The Ruthenocenylmethylium Cation: Isolation and Structures of η5-Cyclopentadienyl-η6-fulvene-ruthenium(II) Salts
journal contribution
posted on 2001-11-10, 00:00 authored by Stephen Barlow, Andrew Cowley, Jennifer C. Green, Tim J. Brunker, Tony HascallSalts 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.