Syntheses and properties of multiferrocenylated corannulenes

Abstract

The syntheses and properties of corannulenes bearing different numbers and types of ferrocenyl groups are described. Six different monoferrocenylated corannulenes were synthesized, and the crystal structure of 1-corannulenyl-1′-(ferrocenyl)benzene was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Further, diferrocenylated corannulenes bearing methyl or trifluoromethyl groups are reported. Buckybowls with four and five ferrocenyl substituents were synthesized from tetrabromocorannulene and the symmetrical pentachlorocorannulene. The molecular structure and nutshell-like crystal packing of a tetraferrocenylated corannulene was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Additionally, all compounds presented herein were subjected to electrochemical and optical measurements in solution.