New di-ferrocenyl-ethynylpyridinyl triphenylphosphine copper halide complexes and related di-ferricenyl electro-crystallized materials.

Three new neutral di-ferrocenyl-ethynylpyridinyl copper complexes, [L2(CuCl)2(PPh3)2] (), [L2(CuBr)2(PPh3)2] (), and [L2(CuI)2(PPh3)2] () were synthesized from the ferrocenyl-ethynylpyridine ligand (L) (), the appropriate copper halide CuX (with X = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-)) and triphenylphosphine. These neutral complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Cyclic voltammetry in dichloroethane revealed chemically reversible ferrocenyl oxidation signals followed by characteristic "stripping reduction peaks" showing evidence for oxidation-product electro-crystallization. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed spontaneous formation of crystalline oxidation products with three distinct morphologies for X = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-). Energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis data show Fe : P ratios of 1 : 2.0, 1 : 2.1 and 1 : 2.1 for electro-crystallization products of complexes , , and , respectively, indicating the presence of two [PF6](-) anions in the vicinity of the dioxidized complexes, and suggesting product formulae [](2+)[PF6](-)2, [](2+)[PF6](-)2 and [](2+)[PF6](-)2.