Structural and Redox Properties of Novel Spirocyclic 1-Sila-3-ferracyclobutanes, [(η5-C5H4)Fe(L2)CH2SiMe2], L2 = P−P (diphosphine)

Photochemical treatment of the 1-dimethylsila-3-ferracyclobutane (1) with diphosphine ligands Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2, n = 1, 2, 3 (P−P), results in the formation of (3−5) spirocyclic complexes. The new 1-dimethylsila-3-ferracyclobutanes do not ring-open to form polymeric materials, although the X-ray structural analysis of indicates the same ring strain as noted for analogues of 1 that do polymerize. Cyclic voltammetric studies of these complexes reveal a reversible one-electron redox process.