Preparation of donor-sigma-acceptor molecules using arene-ruthenium chemistry.

Several donor-sigma acceptor (D-sigma-A) molecules with thioalkyl side chains have been prepared by ruthenium-activated nucleophilic aromatic substition (S(N)Ar) reactions. Selective substitution of chloride from cyclopentadienyl(1,4-dichlorobenzene)ruthenium by using piperazine derivatives as nucleophiles is addressed. This selectivity, in combination with further manipulation of the complexes, allows the preparation of unsymmetrically functionalized tetraalkyl-p-phenylenediamine (TAPD) units which are difficult to synthesize by traditional organic S(N)Ar conditions. Phenanthroline-assisted decomplexation of the product arene-RuCp systems under UV irradiation is described.