Organometallic complexes featuring oligo-phenylene ethynlene ligands

Abstract

This thesis describes the synthesis and analysis of organometallic complexes that feature oligo-phenylene ethynylene based ligands. Chapter 1 introduces the general topic of molecular electronics and provides a general overview of the interest in phenylene ethynylene systems as foundation architectures for molecular wires. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of oligo-phenylene ethynylene pro-ligands of the general form Me3SiC=CC6H4C=CC6H4R (1-5), in which R is either an electron donor (Me, OMe) or acceptor (CC^Me, NO2, CN). Chapter 3 discusses the synthesis of the gold(I) oligo-phenylene ethynylene complexes. Chapter 4 examines the synthesis of half-sandwich Ru(L2)Cp' [L = PPh3, Cp' = Cp ; L2 = dppe, Cp' = Cp*) acetylide complexes derived from simple phenyl, tolan and oligo(phenylene ethynylene) based acetylenes. Chapter 5 describes the synthesis of some cluster complexes. Chapter 6 explores the novel, preparative scale stoichiometric transmetallation reactions involving the simple Au(C=CR)(PPh3) (R = Ph or CelTjMe) complexes. Chapter 7 concludes the general summary of the thesis and discusses briefly the findings achieved in each chapter.