# Triptycepenes: Synthesis, Metal Complexes, and Their Reactivity in Catalytic Reactions

## TL;DR

This paper describes a new method to synthesize triptycepenes and their use in creating metal complexes with catalytic properties.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel synthetic route for substituted triptycepenes and explores their reactivity in catalytic reactions.

## Key findings

- A new synthesis method for substituted triptycepenes was developed.
- Metal complexes of triptycepenes showed catalytic activity in reactions like cyclotrimerization and C–H functionalization.
- X-ray diffraction confirmed the structures of the synthesized metal complexes.

## Abstract

An efficient protocol
allows the convenient synthesis
of substituted
triptycepenes through the condensation of anthracene α-diketone
with 3-pentanone or 1,3-diphenylpropan-2-one, finally yielding the
corresponding cyclopentadienones. This approach offers a potential
route toward sterically bulky cyclopentadienyl ligand frameworks.
The methyl-substituted triptycepene was used to generate η5-coordinated Ru and Co complexes as well as an η4-coordinated Fe complex. These metal complexes were characterized
by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their exemplary catalytic
activity in metal-catalyzed reactions like cyclotrimerization, C–H
functionalization, and transfer hydrogenation was investigated.