Synthesis of a 30-Membered Macrocycle Incorporating Two Ruthenium Sandwich Complexes

Abstract

The first macrocycle incorporating two ruthenium sandwich complexes has been synthesised. Key step is a cyclodimerisation by double etherification of a p-chlorophenylalanine-derived [RuCp*] + complex. Silica-based cation exchange chromatography allowed the separation of dicationic diastereomers. Assignment of the relative configurations was possible by X-ray structure determination. Partial demetalation in acetonitrile proceeded in high yield by irradiation in the presence of biphenyl.