The synthesis of complexes using precursor complexes with ferrocenyl carboxylate units as building blocks

Using ferrocenyl carboxylates as functional ligands, we synthesized a mononuclear complex [Zn(η2-OOCCHdouble bond; length as m-dashCHFc)2(CH3OH)2] (1) and a binuclear complex [Cd(bafca)2(H2O)2]2 (2) (bafca− = α-benzamido-β-ferrocenylacrylic carboxylate) as precursor complexes. Investigation on the substitution reaction of precursor complexes as building blocks in solution-state, four complexes [Zn(OOCCHdouble bond; length as m-dashCHFc)2(bbbm)]n (1a), {[Zn(OOCCHdouble bond; length as m-dashCHFc)(ntb)](CH3OH)} (1b), [Cd(bafca)2(2,2′-bpy)]2 · 9H2O (2a) and {[Cd(bafca)2(bbbm)(CH3OH)2] · 6CH3OH}n (2b) were obtained (bbbm = 1,1-(1,4-Butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole, ntb = N,N-bis(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-1H-Benzimidazole-2-methanamine and 2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). As anticipated, the structural integrity of precursor complexes can be maintained in these four complexes. It indicates that we can synthesize the desired complexes with the destination structures by using precursor complexes as building blocks and choosing appropriate auxiliary ligands. In addition, the electrochemical properties of all complexes were investigated, and it can be seen from the results that half-wave potentials of these complexes are slightly higher than that of the corresponding ligand.