Heterometallic early–late π-tweezer complexes: their synthesis, electrochemical behaviour and the solid-state structures of (η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Ti(CCPh)2 and [(η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Ti(CCPh)2]Pd(PPh3)

The reaction of [Ti](CCPh)2 (1) {[Ti]=(η5-C5H4SiMe3)2Ti} with equimolar amounts of CuBr, Ni(PPh3)3 or Pd(PPh3)4 produces the heterobimetallic early–late transition metal complexes of general type {[Ti](CCPh)2}MX [2: MX=CuBr, 3: MX=Ni(PPh3), 4: MX=Pd(PPh3)} in which the respective transition metal atoms are linked by σ,π-bound alkynyl ligands. The solid-state structure of 1 and 4 is reported. In heterobimetallic 4 the Pd(0) centre possesses a trigonal–planar environment caused by the two η2-coordinated Me3SiCC ligands and the datively bonded PPh3 group. The PPh3 moiety is thereby located out of the best Ti(CCSi)2Pd plane. Comparative cyclic voltammetric studies on complexes 1–4 as well as {[Ti](CCPh)2}Ni(CO), for comparison, are presented. These studies reveal a strong influence of the η2-coordinated low-valent transition metal complex fragments MX on the reduction behaviour of the Ti(IV) centre.