The electrochemical activity of heteroatom-stabilized Fischer-type carbene complexes

A cyclic voltammetry study of some alkoxy, amino and hydrazino carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten has been performed, affording for the first time a detailed overview on the electrochemical activity of this useful and versatile compound class, focusing on the modulating effects of both the carbene metal and substituents.The interest for the above results is also related to the possibility of using Fischer carbenes as new electrochemical active probes for labeling ‘peptide nucleic acids’, which are DNA analogues, for diagnostic purposes.

Graphical abstractThe cyclic voltammetry study of some alkoxy, amino and hydrazino carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten is reported. This study represents a completely new behavior of Fischer-type carbene complexes. Two sets of carbene complexes, namely chromium and tungsten carbenes, have been studied, in order to verify the influence of the two different metals on the electrochemical results. The finding reported in the manuscript testify that Fischer carbenes are a class of compounds of significant and widely modulable electrochemical activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide