(P,C)-cyclometalated complexes derived from naphthyl phosphines: versatile and powerful tools in organometallic chemistry

The chemistry of (P,C)-cyclometalated complexes derived from naphthyl phosphines [^Np(P,C)M] is presented and analysed in this review. The three main synthetic approaches, namely P-chelation assisted C-H activation, oxidative addition and transmetalation, are described and compared. If a naphthyl framework inherently predisposes a phosphorus atom and transition metal to interact, a rigid metallacycle may induce some strain and distortion, as apparent from the survey of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (77 entries with metals from groups 7 to 11). Generally, the ^Np(P,C)-cyclometalation imparts high thermal and chemical robustness to the complexes, and a variety of stoichiometric reactions have been reported. In most cases, the metalacyclic structure is retained, but protodecyclometalation and ring-expansion have been sparingly observed. [^Np(P,C)M] complexes have also proved to be competent and actually competitive catalysts in several transformations, and they act as key intermediates in some others. In addition, interesting phosphorescence properties have been occasionally pointed out.

Tenfold Metalation of Ferrocene: Synthesis, Structures, and Metallophilic Interactions in FeC10 (HgX)10

The permercuration of ferrocene was achieved by reacting ferrocene with 10 equivalents of mercury(II) butyrate Hg(O2 CC3 H7 )2 in a facile one-pot reaction in multi-gram scale and high yields. The butyrate groups in FeC10 (HgX)10 (X=O2 CC3 H7 ) can be exchanged by treatment with trifluoro- or trichloroacetic acid (X=O2 CCF3 , O2 CCCl3 ). Substitution of the trifluoroacetate groups by halides (X=Cl, F) proceeds easily in aqueous THF. The completeness of metalation was confirmed by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis. Additionally, the first crystal structures of permetallated metallocenes are presented: FeC10 (HgX)10 (X=Cl, O2 CCF3 , O2 CCCl3 ).