Group 4 metallocenes in bioorganometallic chemistry

Group 4 metallocene complexes can form adducts or condensation products with a variety of typical biogenic molecules. In this account, examples are presented and discussed for the reactions of zirconocene or titanocene complexes with suitably protected/deprotected carbohydrate derivatives. Some methodological developments are shown for the attachment of aminoacid or peptide derived functional groups at the Cp-rings of the Group 4 bent metallocenes. Eventually, the reactions of methylzirconocene- and methyltitanocene cations with a series of short oligopeptides are discussed that lead to the formation of primary κO-adducts followed by O,N,O-chelate complex formation with methane evolution. The dynamic features of some such systems are discussed.

Graphical abstractTitanocenes and zirconocenes have been modified in various ways by attachment of biogenic groups or ligands. The interaction of reactive bent metallocene systems with derivatives of typical bio-molecules was investigated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide