We are grateful to the National Science Foundation (CHE-1300508) and Mount St. Mary's University (Startup and Summer Faculty Development) for generous support of this work. Ben Rupert (University of Delaware, Mass Spectrometry Facility) is acknowledged for LIFDI mass spectral analyses.

1. Synthesis of an Isomeric Mixture of 3,4,5-Trimethyl-2,5-heptadien-4-ols
<ol>
	<li>Fill an oven dried, 500 mL beaker with 200 mL of hexanes and cover with an oven dried watch glass.
	<ol>
		<li>In an empty hood, use clean scissors to cut half inch pieces of lithium wire. Wipe each lithium piece on a paper towel to remove excess mineral oil, until all oil appears to be removed from the metal&#39;s surface, and place in the beaker containing hexanes.</li>
		<li>Fill an oven dried, 250 mL beaker with 100 mL of hexanes and cover with an oven dried watch glass. Tare this setup on a balance.</li>
		<li>Using oven dried tongs, remove the lithium wire from the first beaker, wipe quickly on a clean paper towel to remove any residual oil or hexanes, and transfer to the tared beaker. Repeat this process until 14.0 g (2.03 mol) of lithium wire have been added to the beaker.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Attach an oven-dried, 1 L three-neck flask equipped with a stir bar to a Schlenk line under a flow of argon in a fume hood. Heat gun the flask for a few minutes and allow it to cool under argon. 
	Caution: It is important to use argon to prevent a potential reaction between lithium and dinitrogen to form lithium nitride.
	<ol>
		<li>Once cooled, use tongs to quickly wipe the lithium pieces on a paper towel and then transfer the lithium into the flask under an argon counter flow.</li>
		<li>Submerge any excess lithium strips in mineral oil for storage. Rinse the tongs and scissors with copious amounts of water in an empty sink. Dry each with a paper towel and submerge the towels in water in the sink. 
		NOTE: No solvent bottles or paper towels should be near the sink.
		<ol>
			<li>Immerse any paper towels or gloves that have been used to cut lithium in a half-filled bowl of water and place in an empty sink. In an empty hood, slowly pour the hexanes from the beakers in 1.1-1.1.3 into a bowl containing water. Add water carefully into the empty beakers to quench any residual lithium.</li>
			<li>Rinse and wipe down the hood where the lithium was cut with water before continuing with the rest of the procedure. Submerge these paper towels in water in the sink before continuing.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Add approximately 500 mL of diethyl ether, collected directly from a solvent purification system, to the reaction flask via cannula transfer.</li>
		<li>Attach an oven dried reflux condenser, an addition funnel equipped with an inert gas sidearm, and a glass stopper to the three neck flask. Place a plastic bowl underneath the reaction setup in case of flask rupture.</li>
		<li>Add 2-bromo-2-butene (29.0 g, 0.218 mol), which has been dried over 4 &#197; molecular sieves overnight, to the addition funnel via syringe.</li>
		<li>Add approximately 3-4 mL of the 2-bromo-2-butene dropwise over the course of 5 minutes to initiate the reaction, whereupon reflux occurs and the solution becomes cloudy. If gentle reflux does not occur on its own after 10-15 minutes of stirring, then warm the flask gently with a heat gun for two-three minutes until reflux is achieved. This is usually adequate to initiate the reaction. 
		Caution: Even if the reaction does not initiate immediately, controlled addition of 2-bromo-2-butene is critical to keep the reaction under control.</li>
		<li>Add the remainder of the 2-bromo-2-butene in the addition funnel dropwise over the course of 90 minutes at a rate that maintains moderate reflux throughout the time period. The reaction mixture will turn a light green color.</li>
		<li>Syringe a mixture of ethyl acetate (40.0 g, 0.454 mol), which has been dried over 4 &#197; molecular sieves overnight, and 2-bromo-2-butene (103.85 g, 0.782 mol) into the addition funnel. Add this mixture to the reaction at a sufficient rate to maintain a controlled but vigorous reflux over the course of four hours.</li>
		<li>After addition is complete, syringe a small amount of ethyl acetate (2.71 g, 0.0308 mol) into the addition funnel and add dropwise to the reaction over 5 minutes. The mixture will be a cloudy orange/yellow color by the end of these additions. Allow the reaction to stir overnight at ambient temperature.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>The next day, replace the addition funnel with a rubber septum.
	<ol>
		<li>Under an argon counter flow, remove the septum and use dry tongs to grab a piece of the unreacted lithium. To recover as much product as possible, rinse the lithium wire quickly with diethyl ether from a wash bottle and allow the solution to drip back into the reaction vessel. Then add the lithium piece to a 500 mL beaker filled with 250 mL of water. 
		Caution: The lithium pieces should be added individually to the beaker and the strip should be allowed to fully react before another is added. This minimizes the risk of fire given the significant amount of H2 generated during the quenching process. 
		NOTE: Other methods to quench the excess lithium, such as careful addition to isopropanol, also work but require significantly longer times to fully consume the excess lithium.</li>
		<li>Repeat 1.3.1 until all large pieces of lithium are quenched, which should require 60-90 minutes on the given scale.</li>
		<li>While still under argon, add a saturated ammonium chloride solution (250 mL) slowly dropwise to the stirring reaction mixture over the course of an hour, quenching the reaction mixture and any small pieces of unreacted lithium. The reaction may reflux gently during the process and become more difficult to stir based on solid formation. Continue addition until the layer of sediment completely dissolves at the bottom of the flask, forming a defined aqueous layer.</li>
		<li>Allow the reaction to cool for 30 min after addition of the solution is complete.</li>
		<li>Pour the contents of the flask into a 1 L separatory funnel and isolate the diethyl ether layer.</li>
		<li>Extract the aqueous layers with three 150 mL portions of diethyl ether.</li>
		<li>Combine all four diethyl ether layers and rotavap to a volume of approximately 75-100 mL.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*H)
<ol>
	<li>Attach an oven dried 500 mL three neck round bottom flask, equipped with a reflux condenser and stir bar, to a Schlenk line under a flow of inert gas.
	<ol>
		<li>Charge the flask with p-toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate (8.70 g, 0.0457 mol).</li>
		<li>Cannula approximately 50 mL of diethyl ether onto the solid.</li>
		<li>Under inert gas counter flow, attach an oven dried addition funnel to the reaction setup.</li>
		<li>Charge the funnel with the 3,4,5-trimethyl-2,5-heptadien-4-ols/diethyl ether concentrate from Step 1.</li>
		<li>Add the concentrate dropwise to the stirring slurry, maintaining a gentle reflux, over the course of 1 h. Allow the reaction to stir for an additional 1 h after the addition is complete.</li>
		<li>Pour the reaction mixture into 300 mL of a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution containing 4.59&#160;g (0.0433 mol) of sodium carbonate.</li>
		<li>Transfer the contents of the flask into a 1 L separatory funnel and isolate the diethyl ether layer. Extract the aqueous layer with three, 100 mL portions of diethyl ether.</li>
		<li>Combine the four diethyl ether layers and dry over magnesium sulfate for two hours.</li>
		<li>Filter the mixture and rotavap down the liquid until ~75-100 mL of material remains. At this stage, the concentrate can be stored in a refrigerator overnight prior to purification the following day.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Transfer the concentrate to an oven dried, round bottom flask equipped with a stir bar. Connect this flask to an oven dried transfer manifold equipped with another 100 mL round bottom flask.
	<ol>
		<li>Cool the receiving flask in ice while submerging the concentrate in an ambient temperature water bath.</li>
		<li>Apply dynamic vacuum to the setup, while stirring the concentrate, for 30-60 min to remove any residual diethyl ether.</li>
		<li>Seal the transfer setup and switch the bath for the receiving flask to a dry ice/acetone slurry while submerging the concentrate in a warm water bath. Allow the trap-to-trap distillation to continue while stirring over the course of 2-3 h, being careful to refresh the vacuum periodically (every 15-20 min) while the baths are also monitored over the same time period. 
		NOTE: After transfer, 39.0 g (0.286 moles, 58% based on 2-bromo-2-butene) of Cp*H can be isolated as a pale yellow oil.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Synthesis of [Cp*RuCl2]229
<ol>
	<li>Charge 1.00 g (3.95 mmol) of ruthenium(III) chloride trihydrate in an oven dried 100 mL Schlenk flask equipped with a stir bar under a flow of inert gas on a Schlenk line.
	<ol>
		<li>Cannula transfer 50 mL of methanol, dried over Mg and distilled prior to use, onto the solid and stir for 30 min.</li>
		<li>Filter the solution under inert gas through an oven dried air free filter funnel, filled with an inch of oven dried Celite, into another 100 mL Schlenk flask equipped with a stir bar.</li>
		<li>Remove the air-free filter funnel and replace with a septum.</li>
		<li>Add Cp*H (1.20 g, 8.81 mmol) by syringe, attach an oven dried reflux condenser equipped with an inert gas sidearm adapter under a flow of inert gas.</li>
		<li>Seal the sidearm on the Schlenk flask and reflux for 4 h under a flow of inert gas.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Allow the reaction to cool and replace the reflux condenser with a glass stopper under a flow of inert gas.
	<ol>
		<li>Remove the solvent in vacuo and dry on a Schlenk line for three hours. Transfer the flask to a glovebox.</li>
		<li>Inside the glovebox, rinse the solid with pentane and scrape the solid from the sides of the flask. Filter the black solid onto a medium porosity frit, rinse with 50 mL of pentane, and dry for an additional hour in vacuo. 
		Note: [Cp*RuCl2]2 (1.53 g, 63% based on Ru) is isolated as a dark solid. Characterization matches literature reports.29</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Synthesis of [Cp*IrCl2]230
<ol>
	<li>Charge 1.00 g (2.60 mmol) of iridium(III) chloride hydrate in an oven dried 100 mL Schlenk flask equipped with a stir bar under a flow of inert gas on a Schlenk line.
	<ol>
		<li>Cannula transfer 50 mL of methanol onto the solid.</li>
		<li>Add Cp*H (0.50 g, 3.67 mmol) by syringe, attach an oven dried reflux condenser equipped with an inert gas sidearm adapter under a flow of inert gas.</li>
		<li>Seal the sidearm on the Schlenk flask and reflux for 48 h under inert gas flow.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Allow the reaction to cool and replace the reflux condenser with a septum under a flow of inert gas.
	<ol>
		<li>Cool the flask in an ice bath for 30 min.</li>
		<li>Filter the reaction in air through a 15 mL medium porosity frit.</li>
		<li>Rinse with 50 mL of diethyl ether and dry the solid in vacuo for two hours. 
		NOTE: [Cp*IrCl2]2 (1.23 g, 59% based on Ir) is isolated as an orange/red solid. Characterization matches literature reports.30</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene.">1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene.</a> Org. Synth. 65, (1987).</li><li>Koelle, U., Kossakowski, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Di-&#181;-chloro-bis[(&#951;5-pentachlororuthenium(III)],+[Cp*RuCl2]2+and+Di-&#181;-methoxo-bis(&#951;5-pentamethylcyclomethylcyclopentadienyl)+diruthenium(II),+[Cp*RuOMe]2.">Di-&#181;-chloro-bis[(&#951;5-pentachlororuthenium(III)], [Cp*RuCl2]2 and Di-&#181;-methoxo-bis(&#951;5-pentamethylcyclomethylcyclopentadienyl) diruthenium(II), [Cp*RuOMe]2.</a> Inorg. Synth. 29, 225-228 (1992).</li><li>White, C., Yates, A., Maitlis, P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=&#951;5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium+and+-iridium+compounds.">&#951;5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium and -iridium compounds.</a> Inorg. Synth. 29, 228-234 (1992).</li><li>Andersen, R. A., Blom, R., Boncella, J. M., Burns, C. J., Volden, H. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+thermal+average+molecular+structures+of+bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium(II),+-calcium(II),+and+-ytterbium(II)+in+the+gas+phase.">The thermal average molecular structures of bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium(II), -calcium(II), and -ytterbium(II) in the gas phase.</a> Acta Chem. Scand. 41A, 24-35 (1987).</li><li>Gross, J. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liquid+injection+field+desorption/ionization+of+reactive+transition+metal+complexes.">Liquid injection field desorption/ionization of reactive transition metal complexes.</a> Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 386 (1), 52-58 (2006).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

During preparation of the heptadienol mixture, it is important to clean the lithium prior to initiating the reaction with the 2-bromo-2-butene. This is accomplished by wiping off residual mineral oil used for storage on paper towels, to the point that the oil appears fully removed from the surface, and by dissolving any remaining oil in the beaker of hexanes. The hexanes were used as received and not further dried before use in the procedure. Because of both the large scale of the reaction and an excess of lithium used, ...

Since the discovery and structural elucidation of ferrocene in the 1950s,1,2,3,4 cyclopentadienyl (Cp) substituted ligands have played a vital role in the development of organometallic chemistry. These ligands have served as versatile ancillary supports for a range of metals, leading to studies of unusual structure and bonding,5,6,7 the activation and functionalization of small molecules,8,9,10,11,12,13 and catalysis, including olefin polymerization.14,15
The 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) anion has proven to be a particularly valuable ligand in transition and main group metal chemistry, as the methyl groups impart greater steric protection, increased electron donation by the anionic ligand, and block potential activation of the cyclopentadienyl ring.16,17 The Cp* ligand remains relevant even today, as the anion has recently been utilized to support H/D exchange by Ir(III),18 hydride transfer by Rh,19 and conjugate aminations mediated by Ti(III).20
Our interest in the Cp* ligand stems from the desire to access reactive sources of cobalt(I) for use in small molecule activation.21 These studies have resulted in the generation of both Cp*CoI and Cp*CoIL (L = N-heterocyclic carbene) equivalents for use in sp3 and sp2 C-H bond oxidative addition.22,23,24 As access to our Cp*Co(II) starting materials necessitate significant quantities of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene, we desired a multigram synthesis of Cp*H, given the substantial commercial cost of the ligand.
Two major methods currently exist for the large scale preparation of Cp*H, each of which presents inherent technical challenges. A procedure developed by Marks and coworkers involves a two-step synthesis of 2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopent-2-enone followed by installation of the final methyl group using methyl lithium.25 The synthesis is described on a massive scale, using a 12 L reaction vessel and mechanical stirring, while also requiring sustained low temperature cooling at 0 &#176;C for four days.
An alternative procedure originally developed by Bercaw and coworkers,26 and later adapted by Marks,27 utilizes in situ generation of an alkenyl lithium for nucleophilic attack of ethyl acetate to produce an isomeric mixture of 3,4,5-trimethyl-2,5-heptadien-4-ols followed by acid mediated cyclization to provide Cp*H. The initial reports of this method were performed on a large (3-5 L) scale and required mechanical stirring. In addition, a significant excess of lithium metal was used, complicating quenching and subsequent workup of the intermediate heptadienols. A subsequent revision of the procedure scales down the reaction and the amount of lithium,28 but safe quenching of the reaction mixture remains an issue. Reproducibility in the initiation of the alkenyl lithium, due to differences in lithium source and purity or dryness of the 2-bromo-2-butene reactant are further noted concerns. Given these issues with the commonly used procedures for preparing Cp*H, we looked to develop better access to the ligand on an intermediate scale (30-40 g) which would circumvent use of specialty laboratory glassware and equipment, improve reaction reproducibility and safety, and simplify workup and ligand purification.
Here we report that synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene, based on modifications of the existing procedure developed by Bercaw and coworkers. The revised synthesis and purification of the ligand accomplishes the major goals outlined above, while permitting access to substantial amounts (39 g) of Cp*H in good yield (58%). The procedure offers other additional benefits, including a more controlled quench of excess lithium during the production of the intermediate heptadienols and a simplified isolation of Cp*H of adequate purity for subsequent metallation with transition metals. To demonstrate the utility of the prepared ligand, it was used to synthesize two [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Ir, Ru) complexes. The revised protocol outlined below complements existing procedures and provides a simpler and more accessible entry point into the chemistry of a ubiquitous ancillary ligand support in organometallic chemistry.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="573">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Materials</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Lithium wire (in mineral oil)</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Aldrich</td>
			<td>278327-100G</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">&#62;98%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">2-bromo-2-butene (mixture of cis/trans isomers)</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Acros</td>
			<td>200016-364&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">98%, dried over molecular sieves from an oven overnight before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Hexanes</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">HX0299-3</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">GR ACS, used as received</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">Ethyl actetate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EX0240-3</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">GR ACS, dried over molecular sieves from an oven overnight before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ammonium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">213330-2.5kg</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">ACS Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Diethyl ether</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EX0190-5</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">GR ACS, collected from a solvent purification system before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Magnesium sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">793612-500g</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Anhydrous, reagent grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">p-toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A320-500</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">ACS Certified</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">5233-500</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">ACS Certified</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Sodium carbonate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Amresco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0585-500g</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Ruthenium (III) chloride trihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Pressure Chemical</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4750</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">40% Metal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Iridium (III) chloride hydrate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Pressure Chemical</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">5730</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">53% Metal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Methanol</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Avantor</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3016-22</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">AR ACS, distilled from Mg before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Pentane</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">J. T. Baker</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T007-09</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">&#62;98%, dried with a solvent purification system before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Chloroform-d</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">151823-150G</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">99.8 atom % D</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Molecular sieves 4&#197;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">208590-1KG</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">dried in an oven at 140 &#176;C before use&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Celite 545</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Acros</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AC34967-0025</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">dried in an oven at 140 &#176;C before use&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Schlenk line, with vacuum and inert gas manifolds</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NA</td>
			<td>Used in Preps 1-4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Solvent transfer manifold</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Chemglass</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AF-0558-01</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in 2.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Airfree filter funnel</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Chemglass</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AF-0542-22</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in 3.1.3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;">Glovebox</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Vacuum Atmospheres</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">OMNI</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in 3.2.2</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

accessing valuable ligand supports for transition metals: a modified, intermediate scale preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene

A reliable, intermediate scale preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*H) is presented, based on modifications of existing protocols that derive from initial 2-bromo-2-butene lithiation followed by acid mediated dienol cyclization. The revised synthesis and purification of the ligand avoids the use of mechanical stirring while still permitting access to significant quantities (39 g) of Cp*H in good yield (58%). The procedure offers other additional benefits, including a more controlled quench of excess lithium during the production of the intermediate heptadienols and a simplified isolation of Cp*H of sufficient purity for metallation with transition metals. The ligand was subsequently used to synthesize [Cp*MCl2]2 complexes of both iridium and ruthenium to demonstrate the utility of the Cp*H prepared and purified by our method. The procedure outlined herein affords substantial quantities of a ubiquitous ancillary ligand support used in organometallic chemistry while minimizing the need for specialized laboratory equipment, thus providing a simpler and more accessible entry point into the chemistry of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene.

The protocol described above for Cp*H synthesis relies on modification of the three step procedure developed by Bercaw and coworkers and modified by Marks (Figure 1). The air sensitive alkenyl lithium is prepared in situ from a mixture of cis and trans-2-butene via a lithium/halogen exchange reaction and is subsequently quenched with ethyl acetate to prepare an isomeric mixture of heptadienols. The mixture can be used without further purificatio...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Accessing Valuable Ligand Supports for Transition Metals: A Modified, Intermediate Scale Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene at JoVE.com

Accessing Valuable Ligand Supports for Transition Metals: A Modified, Intermediate Scale Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene

Reliable, intermediate scale preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*H) is presented. The revised protocol for the synthesis and purification of the ligand minimizes the need for specialized laboratory equipment while simplifying reaction workups and product purification. Use of Cp*H in the synthesis of [Cp*MCl2]2 complexes (M = Ru, Ir) is also described.

A reliable, intermediate scale preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*H) is presented, based on modifications of existing protocols that ...

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10.3K Views.  Mount St. Mary's University. Reliable, intermediate scale preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene (Cp*H) is presented. The revised protocol for the synthesis and purification of the ligand minimizes the need for specialized laboratory equipment while simplifying reaction workups and product purification. Use of Cp*H in the synthesis of [Cp*MCl2]2 complexes (M = Ru, Ir) is also described. 

Video: Accessing Valuable Ligand Supports for Transition Metals: A Modified, Intermediate Scale Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene

Transport of Surface-modified Carbon Nanotubes through a Soil Column

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are widely manufactured nanoparticles, which are being utilized in a number of consumer products, such as sporting goods, electronics and biomedical applications. Due to their accelerating production and use, CNTs constitute a potential environmental risk if they are released to soil and groundwater systems. It is therefore essential to improve the current understanding of environmental fate and transport of CNTs. The transport and retention of CNTs in both natural and artificial media have been reported in literature, but the findings widely vary and are thus not conclusive. There are a number of physical and chemical parameters responsible for variation in retention and transport. In this study, a complete procedure of selected multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is presented starting from their surface modification to a complete set of laboratory column experiments at critical physical and chemical scenarios. Results indicate that the stability of the commercially available MWCNTs are critical with their attached surface functional group which can also influence the transport and retention of MWCNT through the surrounding medium.

Surface properties of a nanoparticle are important for their interaction with the surrounding medium. Therefore the surface modification of carbon nanotubes can be critical for their transport and retention through porous media. Here, lab scale column experiments are used to understand the possible transport and retention of these nanoparticles.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are widely manufactured nanoparticles, which are being utilized in a number of consumer products, such as sporting goods, ...

Preparation of Mica and Silicon Substrates for DNA Origami Analysis and Experimentation

The designed nature and controlled, one-pot synthesis of DNA origami provides exciting opportunities in many fields, particularly nanoelectronics. Many of these applications require interaction with and adhesion of DNA nanostructures to a substrate. Due to its atomically flat and easily cleaned nature, mica has been the substrate of choice for DNA origami experiments. However, the practical applications of mica are relatively limited compared to those of semiconductor substrates. For this reason, a straightforward, stable, and repeatable process for DNA origami adhesion on derivatized silicon oxide is presented here. To promote the adhesion of DNA nanostructures to silicon oxide surface, a self-assembled monolayer of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) is deposited from an aqueous solution that is compatible with many photoresists. The substrate must be cleaned of all organic and metal contaminants using Radio Corporation of America (RCA) cleaning processes and the native oxide layer must be etched to ensure a flat, functionalizable surface. Cleanrooms are equipped with facilities for silicon cleaning, however many components of DNA origami buffers and solutions are often not allowed in them due to contamination concerns. This manuscript describes the set-up and protocol for in-lab, small-scale silicon cleaning for researchers who do not have access to a cleanroom or would like to incorporate processes that could cause contamination of a cleanroom CMOS clean bench. Additionally, variables for regulating coverage are discussed and how to recognize and avoid common sample preparation problems is described.

Reproducible cleaning processes for substrates used in DNA origami research are described, including bench-top RCA cleaning and derivatization of silicon oxide. Protocols for surface preparation, DNA origami deposition, drying parameters, and simple experimental set-ups are illustrated.

The designed nature and controlled, one-pot synthesis of DNA origami provides exciting opportunities in many fields, particularly nanoelectronics. Many of ...

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature solvents. These coordinating ligands help solubilize and stabilize the nanoparticles while in solution, and can influence the resulting size and reactivity of the nanoparticles during their formation. Despite the ubiquity of using ligands during synthesis, the presence of aliphatic ligands on the nanoparticle surface can result in a number of problems during the end use of the nanoparticles, necessitating further ligand stripping or ligand exchange procedures. We have developed a way to synthesize cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using a unique sulfur copolymer. This sulfur copolymer is primarily composed of elemental sulfur, which is a cheap and abundant material. The sulfur copolymer has the advantages of operating both as a high temperature solvent and as a sulfur source, which can react with a cadmium precursor during nanoparticle synthesis, resulting in the generation of ligand free CdS. During the reaction, only some of the copolymer is consumed to produce CdS, while the rest remains in the polymeric state, thereby producing a nanocomposite material. Once the reaction is finished, the copolymer stabilizes the nanoparticles within a solid polymeric matrix. The copolymer can then be removed before the nanoparticles are used, which produces nanoparticles that do not have organic coordinating ligands. This nascent synthesis technique presents a method to produce metal-sulfide nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications where the presence of organic ligands is not desired.

Herein we present a method to synthesize ligand-free cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles based on a unique sulfur copolymer. The sulfur copolymer operates as a high temperature solvent and a sulfur source during the nanoparticle synthesis and stabilizes the nanoparticles after the reaction.

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature ...

Sulfate Separation by Selective Crystallization with a Bis-iminoguanidinium Ligand

A simple and effective method for selective sulfate separation from aqueous solutions by crystallization with a bis-guanidinium ligand, 1,4-benzene-bis(iminoguanidinium) (BBIG), is demonstrated. The ligand is synthesized as the chloride salt (BBIG-Cl) by in situ imine condensation of terephthalaldehyde with aminoguanidinium chloride in water, followed by crystallization as the sulfate salt (BBIG-SO4). Alternatively, BBIG-Cl is synthesized ex situ in larger scale from ethanol. The sulfate separation ability of the BBIG ligand is demonstrated by selective and quantitative crystallization of sulfate from seawater. The ligand can be recycled by neutralization of BBIG-SO4 with aqueous NaOH and crystallization of the neutral bis-iminoguanidine, which can be converted back into BBIG-Cl with aqueous HCl and reused in another separation cycle. Finally, 35S-labeled sulfate and &#946; liquid scintillation counting are employed for monitoring the sulfate concentration in solution. Overall, this protocol will instruct the user in the necessary skills to synthesize a ligand, employ it in the selective crystallization of sulfate from aqueous solutions, and quantify the separation efficiency.

A protocol for in situ aqueous synthesis of a bis(iminoguanidinium) ligand and its utilization in selective separation of sulfate is presented.

A simple and effective method for selective sulfate separation from aqueous solutions by crystallization with a bis-guanidinium ligand, ...

Preparation and Evaluation of 99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Pre-targeting combined with bioorthogonal chemistry is emerging as an effective way to create new radiopharmaceuticals. Of the methods available, the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) cycloaddition between a radiolabeled tetrazines and trans-cyclooctene (TCO) linked to a biomolecule has proven to be a highly effective bioorthogonal approach to imaging specific biological targets. Despite the fact that technetium-99m remains the most widely used isotope in diagnostic nuclear medicine, there is a scarcity of methods for preparing 99mTc-labeled tetrazines. Herein we report the preparation of a family of tridentate-chelate-tetrazine derivatives and their Tc(I) complexes. These hitherto unknown compounds were radiolabeled with 99mTc using a microwave-assisted method in 31% to 83% radiochemical yield. The products are stable in saline and PBS and react rapidly with TCO derivatives in vitro. Their in vivo pre-targeting abilities were demonstrated using a TCO-bisphosphonate (TCO-BP) derivative that localizes to regions of active bone metabolism or injury. In murine studies, the 99mTc-tetrazines showed high activity concentrations in knees and shoulder joints, which was not observed when experiments were performed in the absence of TCO-BP. The overall uptake in non-target organs and pharmacokinetics varied greatly depending on the nature of the linker and polarity of the chelate.

Preparation and Evaluation of 99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Here, we describe a protocol for radiolabeling and in vivo testing of tridentate 99mTc(I) chelate-tetrazine derivatives for pre-targeting and bioorthogonal chemistry.

Pre-targeting combined with bioorthogonal chemistry is emerging as an effective way to create new radiopharmaceuticals. Of the methods available, the ...

Deposition of Porous Sorbents on Fabric Supports

A microwave deposition technique for silanes, previously described for production of oleophobic fabrics, is adapted to provide a fabric support material that can be subsequently treated by dip coating. Dip coating with a sol preparation provides a supported porous layer on the fabric. In this case, the porous layer is a porphyrin functionalized sorbent system based on a powdered material that has been demonstrated previously for the capture and conversion of phosgene. A representative coating is applied to cotton fabric at a loading level of 10 mg/g. This coating has minimal impact on water vapor transport through the fabric (93% of the support fabric rate) while significantly reducing transport of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) through the material (7% of support fabric rate). The described approaches are suitable for use with other fabrics providing amine and hydroxyl groups for modification and can be used in combination with other sol preparations to produce varying functionality.

This report details a microwave-initiated approach for deposition of porphyrin functionalized porous organosilicate sorbents on a cotton fabric and demonstrates reduction in 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) transport through the fabric resulting from this treatment.

A microwave deposition technique for silanes, previously described for production of oleophobic fabrics, is adapted to provide a fabric support material ...

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

This protocol presents both the synthesis method of the Ni single atom catalyst, and the electrochemical testing of its catalytic activity and selectivity in aqueous CO2 reduction. Different from traditional metal nanocrystals, the synthesis of metal single atoms involves a matrix material that can confine those single atoms and prevent them from aggregation. We report an electrospinning and thermal annealing method to prepare Ni single atoms dispersed and coordinated in a graphene shell, as active centers for CO2 reduction to CO. During the synthesis, N dopants play a critical role in generating graphene vacancies to trap Ni atoms. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional atom probe tomography were employed to identify the single Ni atomic sites in graphene vacancies. Detailed setup of electrochemical CO2 reduction apparatus coupled with an on-line gas chromatography is also demonstrated. Compared to metallic Ni, Ni single atom catalyst exhibit dramatically improved CO2 reduction and suppressed H2 evolution side reaction.

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Here, we present a protocol for the synthesis and electrochemical testing of transition metal single atoms coordinated in graphene vacancies as active centers for selective carbon dioxide reduction to carbon monoxide in aqueous solutions.

This protocol presents both the synthesis method of the Ni single atom catalyst, and the electrochemical testing of its catalytic activity and selectivity ...

Ligand-Mediated Nucleation and Growth of Palladium Metal Nanoparticles

The size, size distribution and stability of colloidal nanoparticles are greatly affected by the presence of capping ligands. Despite the key contribution of capping ligands during the synthesis reaction, their role in regulating the nucleation and growth rates of colloidal nanoparticles is not well understood. In this work, we demonstrate a mechanistic investigation of the role of trioctylphosphine (TOP) in Pd nanoparticles in different solvents (toluene and pyridine) using in situ SAXS and ligand-based kinetic modeling. Our results under different synthetic conditions reveal the overlap of nucleation and growth of Pd nanoparticles during the reaction, which contradicts the LaMer-type nucleation and growth model. The model accounts for the kinetics of Pd-TOP binding for both, the precursor and the particle surface, which is essential to capture the size evolution as well as the concentration of particles in situ. In addition, we illustrate the predictive power of our ligand-based model through designing the synthetic conditions to obtain nanoparticles with desired sizes. The proposed methodology can be applied to other synthesis systems and therefore serves as an effective strategy for predictive synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles.

The main goal of this work is to elucidate the role of capping agents in regulating the size of palladium nanoparticles by combining in situ small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and ligand-based kinetic modeling.

The size, size distribution and stability of colloidal nanoparticles are greatly affected by the presence of capping ligands. Despite the key contribution ...

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

This paper focuses on the microfluidic process (and its parameters) to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. The preparation usually consists in the formation of droplets containing low molar mass liquid crystals at elevated temperatures. Subsequently, these particle precursors are oriented in the flow field of the capillary and solidified by a crosslinking polymerization, which produces the final actuating particles. The optimization of the process is necessary to obtain the actuating particles and the proper variation of the process parameters (temperature and flow rate) and allows variations of size and shape (from oblate to strongly prolate morphologies) as well as the magnitude of actuation. In addition, it is possible to vary the type of actuation from elongation to contraction depending on the director profile induced to the droplets during the flow in the capillary, which again depends on the microfluidic process and its parameters. Furthermore, particles of more complex shapes, like core-shell structures or Janus particles, can be prepared by adjusting the setup. By the variation of the chemical structure and the mode of crosslinking (solidification) of the liquid crystalline elastomer, it is also possible to prepare actuating particles triggered by heat or UV-vis irradiation.

This article describes the microfluidic process and parameters to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. This process allows the preparation of actuating particles and the variation of their size and shape (from oblate to strongly prolate, core-shell, and Janus morphologies) as well as the magnitude of actuation.

This paper focuses on the microfluidic process (and its parameters) to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. The preparation ...

Gold Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Enhanced Neurochemical Detection

For over 30 years, carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) have been the standard for neurotransmitter detection. Generally, carbon fibers are aspirated into glass capillaries, pulled to a fine taper, and then sealed using an epoxy to create electrode materials that are used for fast scan cyclic voltammetry testing. The use of bare CFMEs has several limitations, though. First and foremost, the carbon fiber contains mostly basal plane carbon, which has a relatively low surface area and yields lower sensitivities than other nanomaterials. Furthermore, the graphitic carbon is limited by its temporal resolution, and its relatively low conductivity. Lastly, neurochemicals and macromolecules have been known to foul at the surface of carbon electrodes where they form non-conductive polymers that block further neurotransmitter adsorption. For this study, we modify CFMEs with gold nanoparticles to enhance neurochemical testing with fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Au3+ was electrodeposited or dipcoated from a colloidal solution onto the surface of CFMEs. Since gold is a stable and relatively inert metal, it is an ideal electrode material for analytical measurements of neurochemicals. Gold nanoparticle modified (AuNP-CFMEs) had a stability to dopamine response for over 4 h. Moreover, AuNP-CFMEs exhibit an increased sensitivity (higher peak oxidative current of the cyclic voltammograms) and faster electron transfer kinetics (lower &#916;EP or peak separation) than bare unmodified CFMEs. The development of AuNP-CFMEs provides the creation of novel electrochemical sensors for detecting fast changes in dopamine concentration and other neurochemicals at lower limits of detection. This work has vast applications for the enhancement of neurochemical measurements. The generation of gold nanoparticle modified CFMEs will be vitally important for the development of novel electrode sensors to detect neurotransmitters in vivo in rodent and other models to study neurochemical effects of drug abuse, depression, stroke, ischemia, and other behavioral and disease states.

In this study, we modify carbon-fiber microelectrodes with gold nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity of neurotransmitter detection.

For over 30 years, carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) have been the standard for neurotransmitter detection. Generally, carbon fibers are aspirated into ...