Late Transition-metal Complexes Supported by Pincer Ligands

Late Transition-metal Complexes Supported by Pincer Ligands
Author: Wilson D. Bailey
Publisher:
Total Pages: 181
Release: 2016
Genre: Alkenes
ISBN:
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Late transition-metal pincer complexes of primarily palladium(II) and platinum(II) have been investigated for their application as catalysts in partial oxidation reactions. The epoxidation of higher olefins using molecular oxygen as the oxidant has been targeted, and the individual reaction steps needed to accomplish this overall transformation are described herein, including: (1) hydrogenolysis of a metal hydroxide (M-OH) species to yield a metal hydride (M-H), (2) insertion of O2 into the M-H bond to form a metal hydroperoxide (M-OOH), and (3) O-atom transfer from the M-OOH to epoxides, yielding a M-OH and completing the catalytic cycle. Previous results from our group on these individual transformations using (tBuPCP)Pd and (tBuPCO)Pd fragments are also reviewed. The requirements for O2 insertion into PdII and PtII hydrides are discussed. An array of cationic, neutral, and anionic Pd-H and Pt-H complexes supported by a tBuPNP backbone were synthesized and evaluated for O2 insertion (tBuPNP = 2,6-bis-(di-tbutylphosphinomethyl)pyridine). Metal-ligand cooperation was observed in the activation of H2 to form neutral hydride complexes. The effect of ligand protonation/deprotonation on the trans influence experienced by the hydride ligand was investigated. No reaction with O2 was observed with the cationic hydrides, while the neutral and anionic forms reacted with O2 at the tBuPNP backbone. The synthesis and characterization of mono- and dinuclear Pd-OH complexes supported by a PCNR pincer ligand (PCNR = (1-(3-((di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl)phenyl)-1H-5-R-pyrazole), R = H, Me) is presented. When R = H, ligand pyrazole "rollover" C-H activation was observed, forming a mixed ligand (PCNH)Pd(μ-OH)Pd(PCC) dinuclear structure. This "rollover" was investigated using DFT computations. The mono- and dinuclear hydroxide species were evaluated for hydrogenolysis. The dinuclear compounds {[(PCNR)Pd]2(μ-OH)}[OTf] reacted under an H2 atmosphere to yield the corresponding dinuclear hydrides {[(PCNR)Pd]2(μ-H)}[OTf]. A mechanistic study on the hydrogenolysis of the μ-bridged hydroxide {[(PCNMe)Pd]2(μ-OH)}[OTf] revealed first order kinetics in both [Pd] and [H2]. Terminal hydrides were not detected, and reduction of the mononuclear hydroxide complexes (PCNR)Pd-OH to Pd0 was observed under H2. The reduction was proposed to proceed through displacement of the pyrazole arm, and was examined by DFT computations. Lastly, a new strategy to promote O-atom transfer from M-OOH to epoxides, the final step in the targeted catalytic cycle, is proposed. Preliminary studies on NNNPyz, NNNEt, and NNMe ligated PdII and PtII are discussed (NNNPyz = 2,6-bis(5-tbutyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine; NNNEt = 2-(5-tbutyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(diethylaminomethyl)pyridine; NNMe = 2-(5-tBu-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-methylpyridine). The NNNPyz ligand, containing two acidic sites in proximity to the fourth site in the square plane, was found to protonate M-O2 complexes, chelate to the metal center and oxidize phosphine substrates. Similar reactivity was observed with NNNEt and NNMe, however hemilability of these ligands resulted in undesired coordination modes.

Early Transition Metal Complexes of Carbene Donors Linked to Cyclopentadienyl Ring Analogues Or Amidine

Early Transition Metal Complexes of Carbene Donors Linked to Cyclopentadienyl Ring Analogues Or Amidine
Author: Susan Conde Guadano
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2010
Genre:
ISBN:
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The new indenyl-functionalised NHC potassium salt, 1-[3-(4,7-dimethylindenylpropyl)]-3- (2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidenepotassium, has been synthesised. Complexes of titanium, zirconium and chromium containing this ligand and the two carbon bridge analogue, 1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2 ylidene potassium, have been synthesised and characterised by X-ray crystallographic techniques. The following complexes were tested as catalysts for the oligomerisation of ethylene in the presence of MAO: 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-imidazol-2-ylidene(tertbutylimido) titanium chloride, 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[3-(4,7- dimethylindenyl)propyl]imidazol-2-ylidene(tert-butylimido)titanium chloride, 3-(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)-1-[3-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)propyl]imidazol-2-ylidenezirconium trichloride, 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]imidazol-2- ylidenezirconium trichloride, 3-(2,6-Diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]- imidazol-2-ylidenechromium dichloride, 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[3-(4,7- (dimethylindenyl))propyl]imidazol-2-ylidene chromium dichloride, 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)- 1-[3-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)propyl]-imidazol-2-ylidene chromium methyl chloride and 3-(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-imidazol-2-ylidenevanadium dichloride. The following alkyl chromium complexes containing 1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-3-(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2 ylidene potassium have also been synthesised: 3-(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-(4,7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-imidazol-2-ylidene chromium phenyl chloride and 3-(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)-1-[2-(4, 7-dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-imidazol-2-ylidene chromium dibenzyl. Chromium cations have been synthesised using as starting materials the chromium alkyl complexes. The Cr(II) complex 3-(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)-1-[2-(4, 7- dimethylindenyl)ethyl]-imidazol-2-ylidene chromium monochloride and a partially oxidised dimerised product were also isolated. 5-(2-chloroethyl)- 1, 2, 3, 4-tetramethylcyclopentadiene and 5-(3-chloropropyl) 1, 2, 3, 4-tetramethylcyclopentadiene were synthesised and isolated as geminal isomers for the first time. The trialkyl chromium complex, tribenzyl chromium tris(tetrahydrofuran) was synthesised and also it was used as starting material for the complexes di(benzyl)chromium bis(1, 3- diisopropylimidazol-2-ylindene) and tri(benzyl)chromium TACN. All complexes were characterised by X-ray crystallography. The imidazolium salt 3-(2.6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[N, N-bis(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)acetamidyl] imidazolium chloride was synthesised and used as a precursor for the synthesis of amidinate-functionalised NHC zirconium and amidine-functionalised NHC silver complexes. Double deprotonation of 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[N, N'-bis(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)acetamidyl] imidazolium chloride gave the amidinate-functionalised NHC ligand, 3-(2.6-diisopropylphenyl)-1-[2-N, N'bis(2,6 diisopropylphenylamidinate)ethyl]imidazol-2-ylidenepotassium. Titanium, zirconium and chromium complexes containing this ligand were synthesised and characterised by X-ray crystallographic techniques. Transmetallation of the amidine-functionalised NHC silver complex with [Rh(COD)Cl]2 and [Ir(COD)Cl]2 gave the corresponding species. Rh(amidinefunctionalised NHC)(COD)Cl reacted with Na(BAr)4 (Ar = 3,5-CF3C6H3) to give the cation Rh(amidine-functionalised NHC)(COD)]+[BAr4]-. These species were also characterised by X-ray diffraction techniques.

Chiral Iron Pyridine Complexes and Ruthenium Complexes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Macrocyclic (N, O) Donor Atom Ligands

Chiral Iron Pyridine Complexes and Ruthenium Complexes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Macrocyclic (N, O) Donor Atom Ligands
Author: Kar-Yee Lam
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2017-01-26
Genre:
ISBN: 9781361034422
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This dissertation, "Chiral Iron Pyridine Complexes and Ruthenium Complexes With N-heterocyclic Carbene and Macrocyclic (N, O) Donor Atom Ligands: Synthesis, Catalytic Activity and Biological Studies" by Kar-yee, Lam, 林嘉儀, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of thesis entitled CHIRAL IRON PYRIDINE COMPLEXES AND RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES WITH N-HETEROCYCLIC CARBENE AND MACROCYCLIC(N, O) DONOR ATOM LIGANDS: SYNTHESIS, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES Submitted by Lam Kar Yee For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in April 2016 Transition metal complexes are widely applied as catalysts for organic transformation reactions such as the oxygen atom and nitrene transfer reactions and there is a growing interest to develop the medicinal applications of transition metal complexes. The studies of reactive metal-oxo and metal-nitrene intermediates are important in probing the underlying reaction mechanisms. This thesis is comprised of three main parts. In the first part, iron complexes with chiral pyridine ligands, such as 4′,6-disubstituted 2,2′ 6′,2″-terpyridine (NNN ) and 4′,6,6″-trisubstituted 2,2′ 6′,2″''-terpyridine (NNN ), were studied for their catalytic activities in asymmetric epoxidation, aziridination, amidation and sulfimidation reactions. The Fe-NNN complex catalyzed intermolecular nitrene transfer/CN bond formation reactions of styrenes with PhINTs in moderate product yields. For the asymmetric intramolecular amidation, the Fe-NNN complex can catalyze intramolecular C-N bond formation using PhI(OAc) as oxidant to form five- or six-membered ring products. The highest product yield obtained was 91 %. The complete conversion of para-substituted phenyl methyl sulfides to corresponding sulfimides was observed by using the Fe-NNN 1 2 complex as catalyst. Both the Fe-NNN and Fe-NNN complexes catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of styrene using PhIO as oxidant at 0 C. The reaction intermediates of the nitrene/oxygen transfer reactions were studied by ESI-MS and high-valent iron-ligand multiple bonded species are proposed to be the reaction intermediates. In the second part, ruthenium pincer N-heterocyclic carbene (CNC) complexes were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic means and X-ray crystallography. II 2+ Complex [Ru (CNC)(bpy)(MeCN)], in which the CNC ligand adopts a fac-coordination mode and contains reactive CH bond of bridging methylene group, was found to react with PhINTs to result in the formation of a new CN bond and cleavage of one existing NC(methylene) bond of the CNC ligand, as revealed by X-ray crystal structure determination of the ruthenium complex product. The reaction 2+ of [Ru(CNC)(bpy)(MeCN)] with PhINTs was monitored by ESI-MS, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy; a paramagnetic Ru(III)-amido complex was isolated, which apparently resulted from intramolecular imido/nitrene CH insertion of a Ru(IV)-imido/nitrene intermediate and was found to undergo the observed CN bond cleavage. Such type of CN bond cleavage induced by metal-mediated imido/nitrene insertion is unprecedented in literature. The final part of this thesis is the study of the anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic properties of the ruthenium complexes. Ruthenium complexes with different oxidation states (+2 and +3) and ligands (pincer NHC and macrocyclic (N, O) donor atom ligands) were examined for their cytotoxicity and anti-angiogenesis activity. III Among the complexes studied, [Ru (N O )Cl ]Cl (Ru-1) displays promising 2 2 2 inhibi

Metal Complexes of Phosphinite Ligands as Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrogenation Reactions

Metal Complexes of Phosphinite Ligands as Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrogenation Reactions
Author: Angela T. Slade
Publisher:
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2007
Genre: Asymmetric synthesis
ISBN:
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The objective of this thesis are two-fold. First to ascertain how phosphinite compounds behave when reacted with transition metal substrates. The second objective is to establish whether the resulting complexes were asymmetric catalysts for conversion of prochiral substrates to chiral products in high ee.

Syntheses and Reactivity Studies of Transition Metal Complexes Featuring Metal - Main Group Multiple Bonds

Syntheses and Reactivity Studies of Transition Metal Complexes Featuring Metal - Main Group Multiple Bonds
Author: Meg E. Fasulo
Publisher:
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:
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The ruthenium triflate complex Cp*(PiPr3)RuOTf (1) was generated from the reaction of Cp*(PiPr3)RuCl with Me3SiOTf in dibutyl ether. Complex 1 reacted with primary and secondary silanes to produce a family of Ru(IV) silyl dihydride complexes of the type Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(SiRR'OTf) (3 - 12). Structural analyses of complexes 8 (R = R' = Ph) and 12 (R = R' = fluorenyl) revealed the presence of a tetrahedral silicon center and a four-legged piano stool geometry about ruthenium. Anion abstraction from Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(SiHROTf) by [Et3Si*toluene][B(C6F5)4] afforded hydrogen-substituted cationic ruthenium silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=SiHR)][B(C6F5)4] (R = Mes (13), R = Si(SiMe3) (14)) that display a significant Ru - H ... Si interaction, as indicated by relatively large 2JSiH coupling constants (2JSiH = 58.2 Hz (13), 2JSiH = 37.1 Hz (14)). The syntheses of secondary silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=SiRR')][B(C6F5)4] (R = R' = Ph (15); R = Ph, R' = Me (16), R = R' = fluorenyl (17)) were also achieved by anion abstraction with [Et3Si*toluene][B(C6F5)4]. Complexes 15 - 17 do not display strong Ru - H ... Si secondary interactions, as indicated by very small 2JSiH coupling constant values. The cationic ruthenium silylene complex [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(SiHMes)] [CB11H6Br6], a catalyst for olefin hydrosilations with primary silanes, was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Relatively strong interactions between the silylene Si atom and Ru-H hydride ligands appear to reflect a highly electrophilic silicon center. Kinetic and mechanistic studies on hydrosilations with this catalyst reveal a fast, initial addition of the Si-H bond of the silylene complex to the olefin. Subsequent migration of a hydride ligand to silicon produces a 16-electron intermediate, which can be trapped by olefin, resulting in inhibition of catalysis, or intercepted by the silane substrate. The latter reaction pathway, involving oxidative addition of the Si-H bond and a somewhat concomitant loss of product, is the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle. Reactions of the cationic ruthenium silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=SiRR')][B(C6F5)4] (R = Mes, R' = H, 1; R = R' =Ph, 2) with alkenes, alkynes, ketones, and Lewis bases were explored. Addition of 1-hexene, 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene, styrene, and cyclopentene to 1 afforded the disubstituted silylene products [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=SiMesR)][B(C6F5)4] (R = Hex, 3; R = CH2CH2tBu, 4; R = CH2CH2Ph, 5; R = C5H9, 6). Analogous reactions with 2-butyne and 3,3-dimethylbut-1-yne yielded the vinyl-substituted silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=Si(CR=CHR')Mes)][B(C6F)4] (R = R' = Me, 7; R = H, R' = tBu, 8). Complex 1 undergoes reactions with ketones to give the heteroatom-substituted silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=Si(OCHPhR)Mes)][B(C6F)4] (R = Ph, 9; R = Me, 10). Interestingly, complexes 3 - 8 display a weak interaction between the hydride ligands and the silicon center, while 9 and 10 exhibit a relatively large interaction (as determined by 2JSiH values). The reaction of isocyanates with 1 resulted in the silyl complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(Si(Mes)[n2-O(CH)(NC6H4R)][B(C6F5)4] (R = H, 11; R = CF3, 12), and an intermediate in this transformation is observed. Complex 2 was subjected to various Lewis bases to yield the base-stabilized silylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(SiPh2*L)][B(C6F)4] (L = DMAP, 13; L = Ph2CO, 14; L = PhCONH2, 15; L = NHMePh, 16, L = tBuSONH2, 18) and the reaction of 1 with NHMePh gave [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(SiHMes*NHMePh)][B(C6F)4]. The cationic germylene complex [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=GeMes2)][OTf] (1) was synthesized from the reaction of Cp*(PiPr3)RuOTf with H2GeMes2, and addition of DMAP to 1 yielded the neutral germylene complex [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)(=GeMes2) (2). The reaction of H3GeTrip and Cp*(PiPr3)RuCl gave the germyl complex Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(GeHTripCl) (3), which undergoes a reaction with Li(Et2O)2[B(C6F5)4] to afford the cationic H-substituted germylene complex [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=GeHTrip)][B(C6F5)4] (4). Addition of 1-hexene, 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene, styrene, and allyl chloride to 4 afforded the disubstituted germylene products [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=GeTripR)][B(C6F5)4] (R = Hex, 5; R = CH2CH2Ph, 6; R = CH2CH2tBu, 7; R = CH2CH2CH2Cl, 8). Analogous reactions with 2-butyne and 3,3-dimethylbut-1-yne yielded the vinyl-substituted germylene complexes [Cp*(PiPr3)Ru(H)2(=Ge(CR=CHR')Trip)][B(C6F)4] (R = H, R' = tBu, 9; R = R' = Me, 10). New di(phosphine)-supported rhodium and iridium silyl complexes were synthesized. Reactions of the di(t-butylphosphino)ethane complex (dtbpe)Rh(CH2Ph) with Ph2SiH2 and Et2SiH2 resulted in isolation of (dtbpe)Rh(H)2(SiBnPh2) (1, Bn = CH2Ph) and (dtbpe)Rh(H)2(SiBnEt2) (2), respectively. Both 1 and 2 display strong interactions between the rhodium hydride ligands and the silyl ligand, as indicated by large 2JSiH values (44.4 and 52.1 Hz). The reaction of (dtbpm)Rh(CH2Ph) (dtbpm = di(t-butylphosphino)methane) with Mes2SiH2 gave the pseudo-three-coordinate Rh complex (dtbpm)Rh(SiHMes2) (3), which is stabilized in the solid state by agostic interactions between the rhodium center and two C - H bonds of a methyl substituent of a mesityl group. The analogous germanium compound (dtbpm)Rh(GeHMes2) (4) is also accessible. Complex 3 readily undergoes reactions with diphenylacetylene, phenylacetylene, and 2-butyne to give the silaallyl complexes (dtbpm)Rh[Si(CPh=CHPh)Mes2] (5), (dtbpm)Rh[Si(CH=CHPh)Mes2] (7), and (dtbpm)Rh(Si(CMe=CHMe)Mes2) (8) via net insertions into the Si - H bond. The germaallyl complexes (dtbpm)Rh[Ge(CPh=CHPh)Mes2] (6) and (dtbpm)Rh[Ge(CMe=CHMe)Mes2] (9) were synthesized under identical conditions starting from 4. The reaction of (dtbpm)Rh(CH2Ph) with 1 equiv of TripPhSiH2 yielded (dtbpm)Rh(H)2[5,7-diisopropyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-silaindenyl-kSi] (11), and catalytic investigations indicate that both (dtbpm)Rh(CH2Ph) and 11 are competent catalysts for the conversion of TripPhSiH2 to 5,7-diisopropyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-silaindole. A dtbpm-supported Ir complex, [(dtbpm)IrCl]€2, was used to access the dinuclear bridging silylene complexes [(dtbpm)IrH](SiPh2)(Cl)2[(dtbpm)IrH] (12) and [(dtbpm)IrH](SiMesCl)( -Cl)(H)[(dtbpm)IrH] (13). The reaction of [(dtbpm)IrCl]2 with a sterically bulky primary silane, (dmp)SiH3 (dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl), allowed isolation of the mononuclear complex (dtbpm)Ir(H)4(10-chloro-1-mesityl-5,7-dimethyl-9,10-dihydrosilaphenanthrene-Si) (14), in which the dmp substituent has undergone C-H activation. The dichloride complex Cp*(Am)WCl2 (1, Am = [(iPrN)2CMe]- ) reacted with the primary silanes PhSiH3, (p-tolyl)SiH3, (3,5-xylyl)SiH3, and (C6F5)SiH3 to produce the W(VI) (silyl)trihydrides Cp*(Am)W(H)3(SiHPhCl) (2), Cp*(Am)W(H)3(SiHTolylCl) (3), Cp*(Am)W(H)3(SiHXylylCl) (4), and Cp*(Am)W(H)3[SiH(C6F5)Cl] (5). In an analogous manner, 1 reacted with PhSiH2Cl to give Cp*(Am)W(H)3(SiPhCl2) (6). Complex 6 can alternatively be quantitatively produced from the reaction of 2 with Ph3CCl. NMR spectroscopic studies and X-ray crystallography reveal an interligand H ... Si interaction between one W - H and the chlorosilyl group, which is further supported by DFT calculations. Complexes of Ru(II) containing the pincer ligand [-N(2-PPh2-4-Me-C6H3)2] (PNPPh) were prepared. The complex (PNPPhH)RuCl2 (1) was treated with 2 equiv AgOTf to produce the triflate complex (PNPPhH)Ru(OTf)2 (2). Complex 1 was also treated with an excess of NaBH4 to give a bimetallic complex [(PNPPh)RuH3]2 (3). A number of methods, including X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and computational studies, were used to probe the structure of 3. Addition of Lewis bases to 3 resulted in octahedral complexes containing a hydride ligand trans to a dihydrogen ligand.

Multimetal Complexes of Fischer Carbenes

Multimetal Complexes of Fischer Carbenes
Author: Daniela Ina Bezuidenhout
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:
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Fischer carbene complexes of the Group VI transition metals (Cr, Mo and W) containing at least two or three different transition metal substituents, all in electronic contact with the carbene carbon atom, were synthesized and studied both in solution and in the solid state. For the complexes of the type [M(CO)5{C(OR)R }], the substituents chosen included (hetero)aromatic (benzene or thiophene) rings ; -bonded to a chromium tricarbonyl fragment or ferrocene as the R -substituent, while the OR-substituent was systematically varied between an ethoxy or a titanoxy group, to yield the complexes 1 (M = Cr, R = Et, R = Fc), 2 (M = W, R = Et, R = Fc), 5 (M = Cr, R = TiCp2Cl, R = Fc), 6 (M = W, R = TiCp2Cl, R = Fc), 7 (M = Mo, R = TiCp2Cl, R = Fc), 12 (M = Cr, R = TiCp2Cl, R = 2-thienyl) and 13 (M = Cr, R = TiCp2Cl, R = [Cr(CO) 3 (? 6-phenyl)]). Direct lithiation of the ferrocene with n-BuLi/TMEDA at elevated temperatures, followed by the Fischer method of carbene preparation, also resulted, in most cases, in the formation of the novel biscarbene complexes with bridging ferrocen- 1,1 -diyl carbene ligands [-Fe{C5H4C(OEt)M(CO) sub>5}2] (3: M = Cr, 4: M = W) or the unusual bimetallacyclic bridged biscarbene complexes [{ -TiCp2O2-O, O }{ - Fe(C5H4)2-C, C }{CM(CO) 5}2] (8: M = Cr, 9: M = W, 10: M = Mo). It was attempted to prepare the mixed heteronuclear biscarbene complex 11 [W(CO) 5C{ -TiCp2O2- O, O }{ -Fe(C5H4)2-C, C }CCr(CO) 5], however the complex could not be fully characterized. The investigation was expanded to include Group VII transition metals Mn and Re, and using the same methodology, the manganese complexes isolated included [MnCp(CO2{C(OR)Fc}] (22: R = Et, 24: R = TiCp2Cl), 23 [- Fe{C5H4C(OEt)MnCp(CO) 2}2] and 25 [{ -TiCp2O2-O, O }{ - Fe(C5H4)2- C, C }[CMnCp(CO) 2}2]. The different reactivity of the binary dirhenium decacarbonyl precursor complex, compared to that of the Group VI complexes, resulted in the formation of a range of complexes. The target compounds [Re2 (CO) 9{C(OR)Fc}] (26: R = Et, 31: R = TiCp2Cl), 27 [-Fe{C5H4C(OEt)Re2 (CO) 9}2] and 33 [{ - TiCp2O2-O, O }{ -Fe(C5H4)2-C, C }[CRe2 (CO) 9}2] were isolated displaying a variety of different geometric isomers. In addition, acyl (30) and aldehyde (32) decomposition products, as well as hydrido (29), and hydrido acyl hydroxycarbene (34) complexes and the unique dichloro-bridged biscarbene complex (28) were also characterized. Most of these complexes displayed Re-Re bond breaking, and two probable mechanisms, either radical or ionic, were proposed involving either hydrogen transfer or protonation followed by hydrolysis. Finally, the structural features and their relevance to bonding in the carbene cluster compounds of the Group VI transition metals were investigated as they represent indicators of possible reactivity sites in multimetal carbene assemblies. The possibility of using DFT calculations to quantify the effect of metal-containing substituents on the carbene ligands was tested and correlated with experimental parameters by employing methods such as vibrational spectroscopy, molecular orbital analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. The best results were obtained from the cyclic voltammetric studies, where the localized metal centre's oxidation potential correlated to both the calculated HOMO energy, and the effect of both the heteroatom substituent and the (hetero)arene substituent, as well as different combinations of the above.