Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Electrochemical Characterization, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Ferrocenyloligosilanes: FcSi<i>_n</i>Me₂<i>_n</i>(C₆H₅) (<i>n</i> = 1−6) and FcSi₂Me₄(C₆H₄-X) (X = <i>m</i>-CF₃, <i>p</i>-Cl, <i>p</i>-Br, <i>p</i>-OMe, <i>p</i>-NMe₂, <i>p</i>-CHC(CN)₂)

Abstract

New ferrocenyloligosilylene aryl complexes have been synthesized, FcSinMe2nC6H5 (n = 1−6) and FcSi2Me4{C6H4-X} (X = m-CF3. p-Cl, p-Br, p-OMe, p-NMe2, p-CHC(CN)2). The complexes have been evaluated with respect to their electrochemical redox and NLO hyperpolarizability properties. All complexes possess oxidation potentials that reflect, systematically but weakly, the various substituents on the aryl group, thereby indicating an aryl−ferrocenyl interaction via the silicon chains. However, hyperpolarizabilities of the complexes are generally similar to those of the corresponding substituted benzenes, with the exception of the most electron-withdrawing substituents, p-Cl and p-CHC(CN)2.