Mononuclear and binuclear tricarbonylchromium complexes of aryl-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes

The complexation reactions of monoaryl- and diaryl-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes with (NH3)3Cr(CO)3 have been studied. The aromatic rings of [2.2]paracyclophane are more favorable for coordination than aryl substituents. This leads to the regioselective formation of the corresponding mono- or binuclear tricarbonylchromium complexes. In some cases, the tricarbonylchromium group is coordinated to the aryl ring of the substituent to form (in low yields) the corresponding mononuclear complex or binuclear complexes with both the aromatic ring of paracyclophane and the aryl ring of the substituent involved in coordination. The structure of such complex, namely, [4-(η6-2,4,6-trimethylpheny)-11-16-η6-[2,2]paracyclophane]bis[tricarbonylchromium(0)] was confirmed by X-ray diffraction study.