Reversible, fine performance tuning of an organometallic molecular wire by addition, ligand replacement and removal of dicobalt fragments

Abstract

Communication between the two iron centres in (dithienylethyne) diyl complex 1 can be finely tuned by reversible addition to, ligand replacement at and removal from the C=C moiety in 1 of dicobalt fragments Co 2(CO)n(PR3)6-n. Performance analysis reveals that disparate mechanisms are in operation for the two systems. In the case of the dicobalt adducts, indirect communication via the dicobalt steppingstone can be finely tuned by controlling the electronic structure of the dicobalt unit. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.