Teaching old tricks to new dogs - rational synthesis of multi-decker complexes featuring cyclo-P5 decks

A rational synthetic pathway towards a series of cyclo-P-5-bearing multi-decker complexes was developed. The combination of [Cp*Fe(mu,eta(5 : 5)-P-5)] (A) with low-valent transition metal cations yields a series of triple-decker complexes [Cp*Fe(mu,eta(5 : 5)-P-5)MCp '''][WCA] (M = Cr - Ni; WCA = weakly coordinating anion, Cp ''' = 1,2,4-(Bu3C5H2)-Bu-t). Utilizing the arene complexes [M(C6R6)(2)][WCA](n) (M = Fe, Co) instead allowed the synthesis of the unprecedented cyclo-P-5-containing quadruple-decker complexes [{Cp*Fe(mu,eta(5 : 5)-P-5)}(2)M][pf](n) (M = Fe, Co).