Coordination polymers based on [Cp*Fe(η5-P5)]: solid-state structure and MAS NMR studies.

Slow diffusion reactions of the pentaphosphaferrocene [Cp*Fe(η(5)-P(5))] (Cp*=η(5)-C(5)Me(5) (1)) with CuX (X=Cl, Br, I) in different stoichiometric ratios and solvent mixtures result in the formation of one- and two-dimensional polymeric compounds 2-6 with molecular formula [{Cu(µ-X)}{Cp*Fe(µ(3),η(5):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}](n) (X=Cl (2a), I (2'c)), [{Cu(µ-I)}{Cp*Fe(µ(3),η(5):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}](n) (3), [{CuX}{Cp*Fe(µ(4),η(5):η(1):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}](n) (X=Cl (4a), Br (4b), I (4c), Br (4'b), I (4'c)), [{Cu(3)(µ-I)(2)(µ(3)-I)}{Cp*Fe(µ(5),η(5):η(1):η(1):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}](n) (5) and [{Cu(4)(µ-X)(4)(CH(3)CN)}{Cp*Fe(µ(7),η(5):η(2):η(1):η(1):η(1):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}](n) (X=Cl (6a), Br (6b)), respectively. The polymeric compounds have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and, for selected examples, by magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The solid-state structures demonstrate the versatile coordination modes of the cyclo-P(5) ligand of 1, extending from two to five coordinating phosphorus atoms in either σ or σ-and-π fashion. In compounds 2a, 2'c and 3, two phosphorus atoms of 1 coordinate to copper atoms in a 1,2 coordination mode (2a, 2'c) and an unprecedented 1,3 coordination mode (3) to form one-dimensional polymers. Compounds 4a-c, 4'b, 4'c and 5 represent two-dimensional coordination polymers. In compounds 4, three phosphorus atoms coordinate to copper atoms in a 1,2,4 coordination mode, whereas in 5 the cyclo-P(5) ligand binds in an unprecedented 1,2,3,4 coordination mode. The crystal structures of 6a,b display a tilted tube, in which all P atoms of the cyclo-P(5) ligand are coordinated to copper atoms in σ- and π-bonding modes.

Structures and properties of spherical 90-vertex fullerene-like nanoballs.

By applying the proper stoichiometry of 1:2 to [Cp(R)Fe(eta(5)-P(5))] and CuX (X=Cl, Br) and dilution conditions in mixtures of CH(3)CN and solvents like CH(2)Cl(2), 1,2-Cl(2)C(6)H(4), toluene, and THF, nine spherical giant molecules having the simplified general formula [Cp(R)Fe(eta(5)-P(5))]@[{Cp(R)Fe(eta(5)-P(5))}(12){CuX}(25)(CH(3)CN)(10)] (Cp(R)=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5) (Cp*); eta(5)-C(5)Me(4)Et (Cp(Et)); X=Cl, Br) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The products consist of 90-vertex frameworks consisting of non-carbon atoms and forming fullerene-like structural motifs. Besides the mostly neutral products, some charged derivatives have been isolated. These spherical giant molecules show an outer diameter of 2.24 (X=Cl) to 2.26 nm (X=Br) and have inner cavities of 1.28 (X=Cl) and 1.20 nm (X=Br) in size. In most instances the inner voids of these nanoballs encapsulate one molecule of [Cp*Fe(eta(5)-P(5))], which reveals preferred orientations of pi-pi stacking between the cyclo-P(5) rings of the guest and those of the host molecules. Moreover, pi-pi and sigma-pi interactions are also found in the packing motifs of the balls in the crystal lattice. Electrochemical investigations of these soluble molecules reveal one irreversible multi-electron oxidation at E(p)=0.615 V and two reduction steps (-1.10 and -2.0 V), the first of which corresponds to about 12 electrons. Density functional calculations reveal that during oxidation and reduction the electrons are withdrawn or added to the surface of the spherical nanomolecules, and no Cu(2+) species are involved.