Effect of Metals on the Electronic Communication through a Molecular Wire Model

Abstract

Two triosmium complexes of 1,4-bis(ferrocenyl)-1,3-butadiyne, Os3(CO)10(μ3-FcC4Fc) (2) and Os3(CO)11(μ3-FcC4Fc) (3) (Fc = (C5H5)Fe(C5H4)), have been prepared and structurally characterized. In 2 one of the triple bonds of the butadiyne grouping is coordinated as a triple bridge to a triangle of three osmium atoms. In 3 the triosmium cluster is opened and is coordinated as a linear chain to both triple bonds. The electronic communication measured via redox potentials of the ferrocenyl groups indicates that the metal atoms increase the electronic communication in 3 and decrease it in 2.