Redox-Rich Metallocene Tetrazene Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemistry, and Catalysis

Thermal or photochemical metal-centered cycloaddition reactions of azidocobalto-cenium hexafluoridophosphate or azidoferrocene with (cyclooctadiene)(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt-(I) afforded the first metallocenyl-substituted tetrazene cyclopentadienyl cobalt complexes together with azocobaltocenium or azoferrocene as side products. The trimetallic CpCo compounds are highly conjugated, colored, and redox-active metallo-aromatic compounds, as shown by their spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical properties. The CpCo-tetrazenido complex with two terminally appended cobaltocene units catalyzes electrochemical proton reduction from acetic acid at a mild overpotential (0.35 V). Replacing cobaltocene with ferrocene moieties rendered the complex inactive toward catalysis.