Synthesis and Structures of Ru(II)-p-Cymene Sandwich Complexes with Electron-Withdrawing Cyclopentadienyl Ligands

Authors

• Uttam R. Pokharel, University of Houston-Clear LakeFollow
• Sean Parkin, University of KentuckyFollow
• John P. Selegue, University of KentuckyFollow

Abstract

A modular synthetic route has been developed to prepare a new series of cationic ruthenium(II) complexes with electron-withdrawing 1,2-diacylcyclopentadienyl ligands. The 2-acyl-6-hydroxyfulvenes were synthesized from cyclopentadienide and acyl chlorides and converted to Tl(I) cyclopentadienyl salts using Tl₂SO₄/KOH. Transmetalation with [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ followed by PF₆⁻ metathesis gives the complexes [Ru{η⁵-1,2-C₅H₃(CO–R)₂}(η⁶-p-cymene)][PF₆] (R = t-Bu, p-Tol, p-ClC₆H₄, p-IC₆H₄) in moderate to high yields. The new compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy; mass spectrometry and elemental analysis were performed where applicable. X-ray analysis of one of the complexes confirms that electron-deficient Cp ligands retain η⁵-coordination and structural planarity within Ru(II)–arene sandwich architectures, highlighting their potential utility in electronically tunable organometallic frameworks.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2026 by the authors.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/cryst16030201

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Pokharel, Uttam R.; Parkin, Sean; and Selegue, John P., "Synthesis and Structures of Ru(II)-p-Cymene Sandwich Complexes with Electron-Withdrawing Cyclopentadienyl Ligands" (2026). Chemistry Faculty Publications. 233.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub/233