Synthesis, Structure, Reactivity, and Intramolecular Donor-Acceptor Interactions in a Phosphinoferrocene Stibine and Its Corresponding Phosphine Chalcogenides and Stiboranes.

Ferrocene-based phosphines equipped with additional functional groups are versatile ligands for coordination chemistry and catalysis. This contribution describes a new compound of this type, combining phosphine and stibine groups at the ferrocene backbone, viz. 1-(diphenylphosphino)-1'-(diphenylstibino)ferrocene (1). Phosphinostibine 1 and the corresponding P-chalcogenide derivatives Ph2P(E)fcSbPh2 (1E, fc = ferrocene-1,1'-diyl, E = O, S, Se) were synthesized and further converted to the corresponding stiboranes Ph2P(E)fcSb(O2C6Cl4)Ph2 (6 and 6E) by oxidation with o-chloranil. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray diffraction analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical methods. Both NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations confirmed the presence of P → Sb and P═O → Sb donor-acceptor interactions in 6 and 6O, triggered by the oxidation of the stibine moiety into Lewis acidic stiborane. The corresponding interactions in 6S and 6Se were of the same type but significantly weaker. A coordination study with AuCl as the model metal fragment revealed that the phosphine group acts as the "primary" coordination site, in line with its higher basicity. The obtained Au(I) complexes were applied as catalysts in the Au-catalyzed cyclization of N-propargylbenzamide and in the oxidative [2 + 2 + 1] cyclization of ethynylbenzene with acetonitrile and pyridine N-oxides. The catalytic results showed that the stibine complexes had worse catalytic performance than their phosphine counterparts, most likely due to the formation of weaker coordination bonds and hence poorer stabilization of the active metal species. Nevertheless, the stibine moiety could be used to fine-tune the properties of the ligated metal center by changing the oxidation state or substituents at the "remote" Sb atom.

A Stable Primary Phosphane Oxide and Its Heavier Congeners.

(Ferrocenylmethyl)phosphane (1) oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur and grey selenium produced (ferrocenylmethyl)phosphane oxide 1O, sulfide 1S and selenide 1Se, respectively, as the first isolable primary phosphane chalcogenides lacking steric protection. At elevated temperatures, compound 1O disproportionated into 1 and (ferrocenylmethyl)phosphinic acid. In reactions with [(η6 -mes)RuCl2 ]2 , 1O underwent tautomerization into a phosphane complex [(η6 -mes)RuCl2 {FcCH2 PH(OH)-κP}], whereas 1S and 1Se lost their P-bound chalcogen atoms, giving rise to the phosphane complex [(η6 -mes)RuCl2 (FcCH2 PH2 -κP)] (Fc=ferrocenyl, mes=mesitylene). No tautomerization was observed in the reaction of 1O with B(C6 F5 )3 , which instead produced a Lewis pair FcCH2 P(O)H2 -B(C6 F5 )3 . Phosphane oxide 1O added to C=O bonds of aldehydes and ketones and even to cumulenes PhNCE (E=O and S). However, both PH hydrogens were only employed in the reactions with aldehydes and cyanates.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Multinuclear Gold Complexes with (Diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene and Oxygen Ligands.

AuI complexes combining hard oxygen and soft (diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene (L) ligands in their molecules were synthesized, viz. the gold hydroxides [Au(OH)(L-κP)] (5) and [{Au(L-κP)}2 (µ-OH)][BF4 ] (4), and the oxonium cluster [{Au(L-κP)}3 (µ3 -O)][BF4 ] (1). In-situ auration of 1 produced [{Au(L-κP)}4 (µ4 -O)][BF4 ]2 (2), which spontaneously converted into a dimeric tetragold complex featuring bridging phosphanylferrocenyl groups geminally diaurated in position 2 of the ferrocene scaffold. The same complex and its isomer incorporating ferrocene-1,1'-diyl bridges resulted similarly from 4. Upon crystallization, compound 5 underwent a redox reaction, producing a structurally unique, crown-like, mixed-valent Au0 /AuI cluster, [Au7 (L-κP)6 ]OH. Compounds 1 and 5 were used to prepare the analogous, N-bridged complexes, [{Au(L-κP)}3 (µ3 -NFc)][BF4 ] (Fc=ferrocenyl) and [{Au(L-κP)}4 (µ4 -N)][BF4 ]. The compounds were structurally characterized and further studied by DFT calculations.

Selective Gold-Catalysed Synthesis of Cyanamides and 1-Substituted 1H-Tetrazol-5-Amines from Isocyanides.

The newly discovered gold-catalysed reaction of isocyanides with hydrazoic acid generated in situ from trimethylsilyl azide and methanol (or, alternatively, from NaN3 /AcOH) produces either cyanamides or 1-substituted 1H-tetrazol-5-amines, depending on the amount of available HN3 . The reaction proceeds selectively and in generally high yields of either product, thus providing a particularly convenient access to a wide range of substituted 1H-tetrazol-5-amines that are rather difficult to access otherwise.

Synthesis and Coordination Behavior of a Flexible Bis(phosphinoferrocene) Ligand.

A symmetrical flexible bis(phosphinoferrocene) derivative, viz. bis[1'-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]methane (1), was prepared and studied as a ligand in Pd(II) and Au(I) complexes. The reactions of 1 with [PdCl2(cod)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) and [Pd(µ-Cl)(LNC)]2 (LNC = [2-(dimethylamino-κN)methyl]phenyl-κC¹) produced bis(phosphine) complex trans-[PdCl2(1-κ²P,P')] (4), wherein the ligand spans trans positions in the square-planar coordination sphere of Pd(II) and the tetranuclear, P,P-bridged complex [(µ(P,P')-1){PdCl(LNC)}2] (5), respectively. In reactions with the Au(I) precursors [AuCl(tht)] and [Au(tht)2][SbF6] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene), ligand 1 gave rise to tetranuclear Au2Fe2 complex [(µ(P,P')-1)(AuCl)2] (6) and to symmetrical macrocyclic tetramer [Au4(µ(P,P')-1)4][SbF6]4 (7). All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition, the structures of compound 1, its synthetic precursor bis[1'-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]methanone (3), and all aforementioned Pd(II) and Au(I) complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (some in solvated form).

Synthesis and Catalytic Use of Gold(I) Complexes Containing a Hemilabile Phosphanylferrocene Nitrile Donor.

Removal of the chloride ligand from [AuCl(1-κP)] (2) containing a P-monodentate 1'-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1-cyanoferrocene ligand (1), by using silver(I) salts affords cationic complexes of the type [Au(1)]X, which exist either as cyclic dimers [Au(1)]2 X2 (3 a, X=SbF6 ; 3 c, X=NTf2 ) or linear coordination polymers [Au(1)]n Xn (3 a', X=SbF6 ; 3 b', X=ClO4 ), depending on anion X and the isolation procedure. As demonstrated for 3 a', the polymers can be readily cleaved by the addition of donors, such as Cl(-) , tetrahydrothiophene (tht) or 1, giving rise to the parent compound 2, [Au(tht)(1-κP)][SbF6 ] (5 a) or [Au(1-κP)2 ][SbF6 ] (4 a), respectively, of which the last two compounds can also be prepared by stepwise replacement of tht in [Au(1-κP)2 ][SbF6 ]. The particular combination of a firmly coordinated (phosphane) and a dissociable (nitrile) donor moieties renders complexes 3/3' attractive for catalysis because they can serve as shelf-stable precursors of coordinatively unsaturated Au(I) fragments, analogous to those that result from the widely used [Au(PR3 )(RCN)]X catalysts. The catalytic properties of the Au-1 complexes were evaluated in model annulation reactions, such as the synthesis of 2,3-dimethylfuran from (Z)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol and oxidative cyclisation of alkynes with nitriles to produce 2,5-disubstituted 1,3-oxazoles. Of the compounds tested (2, 3 a', 3 b', 3 a, 4 a and 5 a), the best results were consistently achieved with dimer 3 c, which has good solubility in organic solvents and only one firmly bound donor at the gold atom. This compound was advantageously used in the key steps of annuloline and rosefuran syntheses.

1'-(Diphenylphosphino)-1-cyanoferrocene: a simple ligand with complicated coordination behavior toward copper(I).

1'-(Diphenylphosphino)-1-cyanoferrocene (3), a new donor-asymmetric ferrocene ligand obtained in two steps from 1'-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-1-carboxaldehyde, reacts with CuCl at a Cu/3 molar ratio of 1:1 to give the heterocubane complex [Cu(µ3-Cl)(3-κP)]4 (4). When the Cu/3 ratio is changed to 1:2 or 1:3, the reaction takes a different course, producing the P,N-bridged dimer [CuCl(3-κP)(µ(P,N)-3)]2 (5) after crystallization. Notably, CuBr and CuI behave differently, affording the corresponding 2D coordination polymers [CuX(µ(P,N)-3)]n [X = I (7), and Br (8)], regardless of the Cu/3 ratio. Reaction of 3 with sources of naked Cu(+), such as [Cu(MeCN)4](+) salts or their synthetic equivalents, provides the 1D coordination polymer [Cu(MeCN-κN)(µ(P,N)-3)][BF4] (9) or salts of a quadruply bridged dicopper(I) cation, [Cu2(µ(P,N)-3)4]X2 ([10]X2), depending on the Cu/3 molar ratio (1:1 vs 1:2 and 1:3). Except for 4, in which 3 binds as a simple P-monodentate ligand, the complexes reported here represent the first structurally characterized compounds in which a phosphinonitrile ligand coordinates through both of its soft donor moieties, thereby extending the coordination chemistry of these ligands.

Facile synthesis and bonding of 4-ferrocenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene complexes.

Ferrocene-substituted carbenes have emerged as attractive, redox-active ligands. However, among the compounds studied to date, ferrocenylated 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes, which are closely related to the archetypal imidazol-2-ylidenes, are still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the triazolium salt [CHN(Me)NCHN(Fc)]I (2; Fc = ferrocenyl), obtained by alkylation of 4-ferrocenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole (1) with MeI, reacts selectively with metal alkoxide/hydroxide precursors [(cod)Rh(OMe)]2 and [(IPr)Au(OH)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) to produce the ferrocene-substituted 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene complexes [(cod)RhI{CN(Me)NCHN(Fc)}] and [(IPr)Au{CN(Me)NCHN(Fc)}]I in good yields. The complexes were characterised by NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Density function theory (DFT) calculations were used to rationalise the electrochemical behaviour of the carbene complexes and to elucidate the bonding situation in these compounds. An analysis using intrinsic bond orbitals (IBOs) revealed that the 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene ligand exerted a strong trans influence and showed a synergistic stabilisation by the negative inductive and positive π-donor effects of the nitrogen atoms adjacent to the carbene carbon atom; these effects were enhanced by conjugation with the CHN bond at the exterior, similar to that in imidazol-2-ylidenes.

Synthesis and catalytic properties of palladium(II) complexes with P,π-chelating ferrocene phosphinoallyl ligands and their non-tethered analogues.

Hybrid phosphines usually combine a phosphine moiety with another heteroatom secondary donor group in their structures while compounds equipped with hydrocarbyl π-donor moieties remain uncommon. This contribution reports the synthesis and structural characterization of the first P/π-allyl-chelating complexes that were obtained using the structurally flexible and redox-active ferrocene unit as the scaffold, viz. [PdCl(R2PfcCHCHCH2-η3:κP)] (1R; R = Ph and cyclohexyl (Cy); fc = ferrocene-1,1'-diyl). These compounds were synthesized from the respective phosphinoferrocene carboxaldehydes R2PfcCHO via reaction with vinylmagnesium bromide to generate 1-(phosphinoferrocenyl)allyl alcohols, which were subsequently acetylated. The resulting allyl acetates reacted smoothly with [Pd2(dba)3]/[Et3NH]Cl (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) to produce the target compounds. Complexes 1R and their nontethered analogues [PdCl(η3-C3H5)(FcPR2-κP)] (5R; Fc = ferrocenyl) were evaluated as pre-catalysts for the Pd-catalysed allylic amination of cinnamyl acetate with aliphatic amines and Suzuki-Miyaura-type cross-coupling of 4-tolylboronic acid with benzoyl chloride. In these reactions, better results were achieved with compounds 5R (particularly with 5Ph), presumably because they form more stable LPd(0)-type catalysts.

Synthesis and structural characterization of heteroboroxines with MB2O3 core (M = Sb, Bi, Sn).

Reaction of organoantimony and organobismuth oxides (LSbO)(2) and (LBiO)(2) (where L is [2,6-bis(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl) with four equivalents of the organoboronic acids gave new heteroboroxines LM[(OBR)(2)O] 1a-2c (for M = Sb: R = Ph (1a), 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4) (1b), ferrocenyl (1c); for M = Bi: R = Ph (2a), 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4) (2b), and ferrocenyl (2c)). Analogously, reaction between organotin carbonate L(Ph)Sn(CO(3)) and two equivalents of organoboronic acids yielded compounds L(Ph)Sn[(OBR)(2)O] (where R = Ph (3a), 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4) (3b), and ferrocenyl (3c)). All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Their structure was described both in solution (NMR studies) and in the solid state (X-ray diffraction analyses 1a, 1c, 2b, 3b, and 3c). All compounds contain a central MB(2)O(3) core (M = Sb, Bi, Sn), and the bonding situation within these rings and their potential aromaticity was investigated by the help of computational methods.

Phosphino-carboxamides: the inconspicuous gems.

Compounds combining phosphine and carboxamide moieties in their molecules have developed virtually unnoticed into a specific class of highly structurally versatile and tuneable donor molecules finding manifold use in various fields, particularly in coordination chemistry, biomedical sciences and in catalysis. In the latter field, some phosphinoamides became the real privileged ligands and an indispensable part of a standard toolbox for synthetic chemists. This critical review aims to give an overview of the multifaceted chemistry of such compounds, paying attention to both the fundamentals and recent developments in this continuously expanding field.

Beyond phosphorus: synthesis, reactivity, coordination behaviour and catalytic properties of 1,1'-bis(diphenylstibino)ferrocene.

Compared to their widely studied phosphine counterparts, ferrocene stibines have received only marginal attention thus far. This paper describes the synthesis of 1,1'-bis(diphenylstibino)ferrocene (1*), which is an antimony analogue of the ubiquitous dppf, and our investigations into the reactivity and coordination behaviour of this compound. Thus, distibine 1 was oxidised to stiboranes fc(SbPh2X2)2 (X = Cl, 2*; F, 6*; fc = ferrocene-1,1'-diyl) and to stibine-stiborane Ph2SbfcSbPh2F2 (5*). Compounds 2 and 6 were easily hydrolysed to produce ferrocenophanes fc[SbPh2XOSbPh2X] (X = Cl, 3*; F, 7*). Removing the halogen from 3 with silver(I) salts afforded the corresponding ferrocenophanes with O-bound oxyanions, fc[SbPh2ZOSbPh2Z] (Z = NO3, 4a*; ClO4, 4b*), which were alternatively prepared from 2 and also converted back to 2 by adding a chloride source. Through investigations into the coordination behaviour of distibine 1, the following compounds were isolated and characterised: [(µ-ClO4)2{Ag(1-κ2Sb,Sb')}2] (8*), [Ag(1-κ2Sb,Sb')2]X (X = ClO4, 9a; SbF6, 9b*), [(µ(Sb,Sb')-1){(arene)MCl2}2] (10*, 11*) and [(arene)MCl(1-κ2Sb,Sb')][PF6] (12*, 13*; 10, 12: M/arene = Ru/η6-p-cymene, 11, 13; Rh/η5-C5Me5), [(η5-C5Me5)RuCl(1-κ2Sb,Sb')] (14), [MCl2(1-κ2Sb,Sb')] (M = Pd, 15*; Pt, 16*), [Pd(1-κ2Sb,Sb')2]X2 (X = BF4, 17a; SbF6, 17b*), [Pd(η2-ma)(1-κ2Sb,Sb')] (18*; ma = maleic anhydride), [(µ(Sb,Sb')-1)(AuCl)2] (19*), and [Au(1-κ2Sb,Sb')2]X (X = AuCl2, 20a*; SbF6, 20b*). Inspection of the structural parameters suggested that complexes featuring 1 exhibit less sterically strained structures than their dppf analogues due to longer M-Sb and Sb-C bonds, which reduce crowding around the ligated metal centre. Cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations revealed that the primary electrochemical oxidation of 1 is reversible and occurs at the ferrocene unit. Based on preliminary catalytic tests in Suzuki-Miyaura biaryl coupling, Pd-1 complexes exhibited a lower efficiency than their respective Pd-dppf analogues. (An asterisk indicates that the crystal structure has been determined.).

Synthesis and reactivity of Pd(II) imidoyl complexes obtained by insertion of isocyanoferrocene into the Pd-C bonds of orthopalladated precursors.

While the multifaceted reactivity of organic isocyanides has been extensively demonstrated, that of their organometallic analogue, isocyanoferrocene (FcNC; Fc = ferrocenyl), has not yet been adequately explored. This contribution describes the syntheses of novel chelating Pd(II) imidoyl complexes, [(YCH2C6H4C(NFc)-κ2Y,C)PdCl(PR3)], by insertion of FcNC into the Pd-C bond of cyclopalladated precursors [(YCH2C6H4-κ2Y,C)PdCl(PR3)] (Y = Me2N, MeS, R = Ph, Me). The imidoyl complexes underwent facile alkylation with [Me3O][BF4] to produce the cationic aminocarbene complexes [{YCH2C6H4C(N(Me)Fc)-κ2Y,C}PdCl(PR3)][BF4]. All compounds were fully characterised using a combination of spectroscopic methods (NMR, FTIR and ESI MS), cyclic voltammetry and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In addition, DFT calculations were used to describe the bonding in the two compound families. Analyses with intrinsic bond orbitals (IBOs) and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) consistently pointed to the transformation of an X-type imidoyl C-ligand (σ-organyl) into an L-type carbene donor upon alkylation, which has only a minor structural consequence. Also reported is the unexpected conversion of the imidoyl complex [(Me2NCH2C6H4C(NFc)-κ2N,C)PdCl(PPh3)] into (Z)-2,2-dimethyl-1-(ferrocenylimino)isoindolin-2-ium tetrafluoroborate as a reductive elimination product, which was induced by Lewis and Brønsted acids.

Synthesis of Hybrid Ligands with Nitrile and Cage Phosphane Donor Groups and their Applications in Gold-Mediated Reactions.

Altering the donor properties of phosphane ligands through substituent variation is an established tool in coordination chemistry and catalysis. This contribution describes the synthesis of two new hybrid donors (L) combining 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,6-trioxa-8-phosphaadamantane-8-yl (PCg) and nitrile donor groups at different molecular scaffolds, viz. ferrocene-1,1'-diyl (fc) and 1,2-phenylene. These ligands were used to prepare dimeric Au(I) complexes [Au2 (µ(P,N)-L)2 ][SbF6 ]2 , which were evaluated as silver-free, preformed catalysts in Au-mediated cycloisomerization of (Z)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol to 2,3-dimethylfuran. The catalyst featuring the ferrocene-based ligand, viz., [Au2 (µ(P,N)-CgPfcCN)2 ][SbF6 ]2 , showed the best catalytic performance at low catalyst loading (0.5 or 0.15 mol.%), which exceeded that of its diphenylphosphanyl analog [Au2 (µ(P,N)-Ph2 PfcCN)2 ][SbF6 ]2 studied earlier and the prototypical Au(I) precatalyst [Au(PPh3 )(MeCN)][SbF6 ].

Highly cytotoxic trithiophenolatodiruthenium complexes of the type [(η6-p-MeC6H4Pri)2Ru2(SC6H4-p-X)3]+: synthesis, molecular structure, electrochemistry, cytotoxicity, and glutathione oxidation potential.

A series of cationic dinuclear p-cymene ruthenium trithiophenolato complexes of the type [(η(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)Pr(i))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(4)-p-X)(3)](+) (1 X is H, 2 X is Me, 3 X is Ph, 4 X is Br, 5 X is OH, 6 X is NO(2), 7 X is OMe, 8 X is CF(3), 9 X is F, 10 X is Pr(i), 11 X is Bu(t)) have been synthesized from the reaction of [(η(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)Pr(i))RuCl(2)](2) with the corresponding thiol, isolated as the chloride salts, and further studied for their electrochemical properties, cytotoxicity towards human ovarian cancer cells, and catalytic activity for glutathione (GSH) oxidation. Complex 1 was also compared with the benzene and hexamethylbenzene analogues [(η(6)-C(6)H(6))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(5))(3)](+) (12) and [(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(5))(3)](+) (13). The most active compound [11]Cl was structurally studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The concentrations corresponding to 50 % inhibition of cancer cell growth (IC(50) values) in the A2780 and A2780cisR cell lines of these complexes except for 6 were in the submicromolar range, complex 11 showing an IC(50) value of 0.03 µM in both cell lines. The high in vitro anticancer activity of these complexes may be at least partially due to their catalytic potential for the oxidation of GSH, although there is no clear correlation between the IC(50) values and the turnover frequencies at about 50 % conversion. However, the cytotoxicity is tentatively correlated to the physicochemical properties of the compounds determined by the electronic influence of the substituents X (Hammett constants σ(p)) and the lipophilicity of the thiols p-XC(6)H(4)SH (calculated log P parameters).

Complexation of europium(III) by bis(dialkyltriazinyl)bipyridines in 1-octanol.

The present work focuses on highly selective ligands for An(III)/Ln(III) separation: bis(triazinyl)bipyridines (BTBPs). By combining time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry, vibronic sideband spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, we obtain a detailed picture of the structure and stoichiometry of the first coordination sphere of Eu(III)-BTBP complexes in an octanolic solution. The main focus is on the 1:2 complexes because extraction studies revealed that those are the species extracted into the organic phase. The investigations on europium(III) complexes of BTBP with different triazin alkylation revealed differences in the formed complexes due to the bulkiness of the ligands. Because of the vibronic sidebands in the fluorescence spectra, we were able to detect whether or not nitrate ligands are coordinated in the first coordination sphere of the Eu-BTBP complexes. In solution, less sterically demanding BTBP offers enough space for additional coordination of anions and/or solvent molecules to form 9-coordinated Eu-BTBP 1:2 complexes, while bulkier ligands tend to form 8-fold-coordinated structures. We also report the first crystal structure of a Ln-BTBP 1:2 complex and that of its 1:1 complex, both of which are 10-coordinated.

(4-Nitro-phen-yl)methanol.

In the crystal of the title compound, C(7)H(7)NO(3), mol-ecules associate into infinite chains via O-H⋯O(NO(2)) hydrogen bonds propagating in the [101] direction. These chains are linked via C-H⋯O(NO(2)) hydrogen bonds to form double-stranded ribbons lying parallel to the ac plane. The ribbons stack along the b axis by means of π-π inter-actions involving the benzene rings and the nitro group. The centroid-centroid distances of the alternating parallel aromatic rings are 3.6514 (7) and 3.8044 (7) Å.

Forever young: the first seventy years of ferrocene.

The discovery of ferrocene, [Fe(η5-C5H5)2], seventy years ago has significantly influenced chemical research and provided a key impetus for establishing and rapidly expanding organometallic chemistry, which has continued at a rapid pace until now. Over the years of intensive research, the ferrocene unit has been recognised as an extremely versatile platform for ligand design, materials research, and medicinal and analytical chemistry as well as many other research fields. Such wide applications of ferrocene and its derivatives are obviously rooted in the unique combination of the properties of the ferrocene moiety, which exhibits high chemical stability but is amenable to diverse synthetic modifications, has well-defined and highly specific steric properties, and displays defined and tuneable redox behaviour. The unrelenting research activity focused on ferrocene compounds and their widespread applications can be expected to continue even in the future to yield more attractive results in terms of both novelty and function.

Metallation of a gold(I) metalloligand with P,C-bridging phosphinoferrocenyl groups enables the construction of defined multimetallic arrays.

The reactions of the gold(I) metalloligand [Au2{µ(P,C)-Ph2Pfc}2], where fc stands for ferrocene-1,1'-diyl, with bare or ligand-stabilised group 11 metal ions open access to diverse oligometallic clusters stabilised by Au-Au, Au-Ag and Au-Cu interactions. These capping reactions and the unique structures of the products stem from unparalleled properties of the bridging ferrocene groups, namely their structural flexibility and electron-rich nature, which enable accommodating the capping moieties and supporting ligands and facilitate electrophilic metalation, respectively. While the Au+ and Ag+ ions behave similarly, capping reactions with Cu+ proceed differently, with an accentuated role of the counter ions and other ligands in the system. Such behaviour reflects the relative strengths of the Au-M metallophilic interaction (M = Au, Ag and Cu), among which the Au-Cu interactions are the weakest, as confirmed by DFT calculations.