Oligo(alkynylsilanes): Templates for Organometallic Polymers

A series of compounds containing alkynylsilane and arylsilane groups, including oligomers and polymers, were used as transition-metal ligands. The alkyne groups could be complexed by dicobalt hexacarbonyl. Alternatively, complexation of the aryl groups by chromium tricarbonyl readily took place. The molecular weights of these complexes ranged up to 155 000 for a silicone polymer derived complex. Mixed-metal clusters containing Cr/Mo and Cr/Co could be made by modifying the chromium derivatives with Mo2Cp2(CO)6 and Co2(CO)8, respectively. The model compound 20 shows an interesting self-assembly of the metals (Co and Cr, respectively) in the crystal.