The Versatility of the Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Ligand in Main-Group Chemistry
Titel:
The Versatility of the Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Ligand in Main-Group Chemistry
Auteur:
Jutzi, Peter
Verschenen in:
Comments on inorganic chemistry
Paginering:
Jaargang 6 (1987) nr. 3 pagina's 123-144
Jaar:
1987-05-01
Inhoud:
Examples from different fields have been collected to demonstrate the unique properties of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (cp*) ligand in main-group chemistry. First, compounds with σ-bonded cp* ligands are thermally very stable and, therefore, allow detailed investigations of their temperature-dependent dynamic behavior. Drastic differences in the rates of 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangements are observed; the comparison of experimental results with theoretical calculations is very useful in understanding basic principles of fluxionality. Second, the polyhaptobonded cp* ligand stabilizes π-complexes with main-group elements as central atoms. Using isolobal and isoelectronic relationships, these π-complexes can be organized in four structurally different classes. Furthermore, the cp* ligand is sterically demanding in boron, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur compounds, leading to kinetically stabilized species and rendering nucleophilic substitution reactions more difficult. Finally, the cp* ligand is a good leaving group; cp*-element bonds can be split by nucleophilic, electrophilic and reducing agents, thus allowing an interesting substitution chemistry.