Ferrocene compounds: methyl 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylate

The title compund, [Fe(C(5)H(6)N)(C(7)H(7)O(2))], features one strong intermolecular hydrogen bond of the type N-H...O=C [N...O = 3.028 (2) A] between the amine group and the carbonyl group of a neighbouring molecule, and vice versa, to form a centrosymmetric dimer. Furthermore, the carbonyl group acts as a double H-atom acceptor in the formation of a second, weaker, hydrogen bond of the type C-H...O=C [C...O = 3.283 (2) A] with the methyl group of the ester group of a second neighbouring molecule at (x, -y - 1/2, z - 1/2). The methyl group also acts as a weak hydrogen-bond donor, symmetry-related to the latter described C-H...O=C interaction, to a third molecule at (x, -y - 1/2, z + 1/2) t…

“Tail–Tail Dimerization” of Ferrocene Amino Acid Derivatives

Acid anhydrides of N-protected 1'-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid (Fca) have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized (protection group Boc, Fmoc, Ac; 4a―4c). The structure of the Boc-derivative 4a has been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. An intramolecular N― H···O hydrogen bond involving the carbamate units results in a ring structure containing the two ferrocene units, the anhydride moiety, and the hydrogen bond. In the crystal, the individual molecules are connected by intermolecular N-H···O hydrogen bonds of the carbamate unit. Experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the ring motif is also a dominant species in solution. Electronic communication a…

Redox-responsive organometallic foldamers from ferrocene amino acid: Solid-phase synthesis, secondary structure and mixed-valence properties

Oligoferrocenes Fmoc-Fca(n)-OMe (n=3-5) are assembled in a stepwise precise manner from Fmoc-protected ferrocene amino acid Fmoc-Fca-OH (H-Fca-OH = 1-amino-1'-ferrocene carboxylic acid; Fmoc = 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) via amide bonds on solid supports by sequential Fmoc deprotection, acid activation and coupling steps. The resulting well-defined oligomers form ordered zigzag structures in THF solution with characteristic hydrogen bonding patterns. Electrochemical experiments reveal sequential oxidations of the individual ferrocene units in these peptides giving mixed-valent cations. Optical intervalence electron transfer is detected by intervalence transitions in the near-IR.

Biferrocene Amino Acid, a Ferrocenylogoue of Ferrocene Amino Acid: Synthesis, Cross-Linking, and Redox Chemistry

Access of the novel biferrocene amino acid 7 is provided by two different routes, namely, via desymmetrization of a biferrocene and via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of two substituted ferrocenes. The dissymmetric biferrocene 7 is head−head coupled to ureylene-bridged bis(biferrocene) 9 and also head−tail coupled to amide-bridged bis(biferrocene) 14. The monomer 7 and the dimers 9 and 14 are oxidized to mixed-valent cations 7+, 9+, 92+, and 142+. The valencies are trapped in the solid state as shown by Mossbauer and EPR spectroscopy and by X-ray diffraction analysis of [7](I3). Paramagnetic NMR shift studies (7 → 7+) suggest that the hole is localized at the N-substituted ferrocene uni…

Bis- and Trisamides Derived From 1′-Aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic Acid and α-Amino Acids: Synthesis and Conformational Analysis

Ferrocene derivatives with one or two achiral and chiral arms based on α-amino acids (Gly, l-Ala, l-Val) attached to the cyclopentadienyl rings were prepared by solution-phase peptide synthesis from N-acetyl- and N-Boc-protected 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acids (Boc = tert-butoxycarbonyl). The conformational preference in the solid state of selected examples was elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The chiroptical properties of chiral bis- and trisamides were investigated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in solution. The conformational preference was studied by NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as by molecular modeling (DFT). For the bisamides, a conformational library is observed…

Formation and mixed-valent behaviour of a substituted tetraferrocenylstannane.

A tetrasubstituted tetraferrocenylstannane is formed from 1-bromoferrocene-1′-carboxylic acid methyl ester and copper bronze. The molecular structure is almost perfectly tetrahedral with Fe⋯Fe distances of around 6 A. In solution two sequential one-electron processes and one two-electron process are indicative of mixed-valent intermediates. Intermetallic interactions have been probed by preparative oxidation, paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy, Mosbauer spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Molecular Multi‐Wavelength Optical Anion Sensors

Polychromatic fingerprinting of simple anions (halides, oxo anions) is achieved by employing neutral and charged multicolor fluorescent probes based on ferrocene-spaced dansyl and naphthyl groups (1/1 + ; 2/2 + ). The conformation of the neutral double dye sensor 2 has been elucidated by NMR spectroscopic techniques (in solution), by X-ray crystallography (solid state) and by DFT calculations (gas phase). The double-dye receptors 2/2 + exhibit specific emission responses in the presence of anions X- when excited at the absorption maxima of the dyes (fingerprint).

Oligonuclear Ferrocene Amides: Mixed‐Valent Peptides and Potential Redox‐Switchable Foldamers

Trinuclear ferrocene tris-amides were synthesized from an Fmoc- or Boc-protected ferrocene amino acid, and hydrogen-bonded zigzag conformations were determined by NMR spectroscopy, molecular modelling, and X-ray diffraction. In these ordered secondary structures orientation of the individual amide dipole moments approximately in the same direction results in a macrodipole moment similar to that of α-helices composed of α-amino acids. Unlike ordinary α-amino acids, the building blocks in these ferrocene amides with defined secondary structure can be sequentially oxidized to mono-, di-, and trications. Singly and doubly charged mixed-valent cations were probed experimentally by Vis/NIR, param…

Conformational stability of oligoferrocene oligoamide foldamers

Abstract Organometallic oligoamides built from three to four ferrocene amino acid units ( H-Fca-OH , 1-amino-1′-ferrocene carboxylic acid) fold into hydrogen bonded secondary structures featuring eight-membered rings by cooperative hydrogen bonds. NMR studies and DFT calculations (CAM-B3LYP, LANL2DZ, IEFPCM (THF)) reveal that the organometallic zigzag foldamer structures are highly resistant toward denaturation by hydrogen bond acceptors such as dimethyl sulfoxide and 2,4-lutidine. Replacing one ferrocene amino acid unit by the organic α -amino acid glycine at the C -terminal end (Fca → Gly) significantly destabilizes the secondary zigzag structure facilitating denaturation by DMSO. Highly …

Conformational Analysis of beta-Lactam-Containing Ferrocene Peptides

The homochiral 3-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-beta-lactam (≡ Alm) was conjugated with Boc-Ala giving Ala-Alm (9) after Boc-deprotection (Boc = tert-butoxycarbonyl, Ala = alanine). Coupling of FcCOOH (1) and Boc-Fca (10) with “ dipeptide” 9 resulted in the formation of FcCO-Ala-Alm (12) and the trisamide Boc-Fca-Ala-Alm (13), respectively (Fc = ferrocenyl, Fca = 1’ -aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid). The reactions were accomplished by the HOBt/EDC procedure and the products were obtained in good yields (HOBt = 1-hydroxybenzotriazole, EDC = N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N’ -ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride). Symmetrically 1, 1’ -disubstituted “ tetrapeptide” Fn(CO-Ala-Alm)2 (14) was prepared…

Elucidation of the Conformational Freedom of Ferrocene Amino Acid (Bio)Conjugates: A Complementary Theoretical and Experimental Approach