Structural Characterization of a Cyclohexamericmeta-Phenyleneethynylene Made by Alkyne Metathesis with In Situ Catalysts

Abstract

New hexameric cyclophenyleneethynylenes (CPEs, 1) were synthesized by alkyne metathesis of meta-dipropynylated benzenes. Treatment of one of these CPE derivatives (R1=tert-butyl, hexyl, dodecyl; R2=H, methyl) with [Os3(CO)10(MeCN)2] led to a decacarbonyltriosmium–CPE complex in which the planarity of the ring was significantly disrupted, as evidenced by the results of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.