Bis(dialkylaminophosphino)ferrocenes: Reactivity and electrochemistry

New compounds containing the 1,1′-bis(dialkylaminophosphino)ferrocene ligands 1,1′-bis(dimethylaminophosphino)ferrocene (dmapf) and 1,1′-bis(diethylaminophosphino)ferrocene (deapf) were prepared and characterized by NMR. The oxidative electrochemistries of these compounds were examined in methylene chloride. The transition metal compounds M_nCl₂(P-P) (M = Pd or Pt, n = 1, P-P = dmapf or deapf; M = Au, n = 2, P-P = dmapf) displayed one-electron, Nernstian waves. The corresponding selenides were prepared and the oxidative electrochemistries, along with those of the previously prepared 1,1′-bis(alkylaminophosphine sulfide)ferrocene, were examined. The sulfides displayed one-electron, Nernstian oxidations. The selenides displayed electrochemically irreversible two-electron waves. The X-ray structures of the sulfides and selenides as well as that of the transition metal compounds [(AuCl)₂(dmapf)] and [PtCl₂(dmapf)] were determined.