A trans-bidentate bis-pyridinyl ligand with a transition metal hinge.

A titanocene based metalloligand, (Cp2Ti)-Ti-star(C(2)2-py)(2), was synthesized and coordinated to either Cu(I) or Pd(II). The metalloligand binds Cu(I) between its alkynes and Pd(II) between its pyridinyl rings, acting as a trans-bidentate ligand. In order to bind Pd(II), significant structural rearrangements were necessary, which required the flexibility of the C-Ti-C hinge on the titanocene metalloligand.