Organometallic polyphosphorus and -arsenic ligands as linkers between pre-assembled linear Cu(I) fragments.

A simple and straightforward synthesis of a new linear trinuclear Cu(I) cluster with polyphosphine ligands is presented. The reaction of this pre-organized Cu3 precursor with En ligand complexes (E = P, As; n = 2, 5) affords discrete complexes exhibiting end-on η(1)-coordination of the E2 ligands or one-dimensional coordination polymers featuring σ-1,3-bridging E5 rings, respectively.

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.

Size-determining dependencies in supramolecular organometallic host-guest chemistry.

Treatment of the pentaphosphaferrocene [Cp*Fe(η(5)-P(5))] with Cu(I) halides in the presence of different templates leads to novel fullerene-like spherical molecules that serve as hosts for the templates. If ferrocene is used as the template the 80-vertex ball [Cp(2)Fe]@[{Cp*Fe(η(5)-P(5))}(12){CuCl}(20)] (4), with an overall icosahedral C(80) topological symmetry, is obtained. This result shows the ability of ferrocene to compete successfully with the internal template of the reaction system [Cp*Fe(η(5)-P(5))], although the 90-vertex ball [{Cp*Fe(η(5):η(1):η(1):η(1):η(1):η(1)-P(5))}(12)(CuCl)(10)(Cu(2)Cl(3))(5){Cu(CH(3)CN)(2)}(5)] (2 a) containing pentaphosphaferrocene as a guest is also formed as a byproduct.

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.

A spherical molecule with a carbon-free I(h)-C80 topological framework.

The complete encapsulation of ortho-carborane by a fullerene-like building-block system consisting of pentaphosphaferrocene and Cu(I)Cl leads to the formation of the spherical supermolecule C(2)B(10)H(12) section sign[{Cp*Fe(eta(5)-P(5))}(12)(CuCl)(20)]. This product of template-controlled aggregation represents the first example of a carbon-free C(80) analogue possessing icosahedral symmetry.