Complexes of the ligand Fcterpy (Fcterpy = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) with group 11 metals display different coordination modes. The reaction with complexes [Cu(N[O.sub.3])[(P[Ph.sub.3]).sub.2]] or [M(OTf)(P[R.sub.3])] (OTf = trifluoromethyl-sulphonate) gives the species [M(Fcterpy)(P[R.sub.3])]X (M = Cu, X = P[F.sub.6], P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (1); M = Ag, X = OTf, P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (2), P[Ph.sub.2]Me (3); M = Au, X = OTf, P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (4)) in which the ligand is coordinated as a tridentate chelate to the metal. Treatment with [Cu[(NCME).sub.4]]P[F.sub.6] or Ag(OTf) in 1:1 molar ratio gives the dinuclear complexes [[M.sub.2][(Fcterpy).sub.2]][X.sub.2] (M = Cu (5), Ag (6)), in which the ligand is tetradentate because the central pyridine group is bonded to two metals. The reaction with the gold(I) complex [Au([C.sub.6][F.sub.5])(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) leads to the first example of a terpyridine ligand bonded to three metal atoms, [[Au.sub.3][([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3](Fcterpy)] (7); in the product of the corresponding reaction with the gold(III) derivative [Au[([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3](OEt2)] to give [Au[([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3](Fcterpy)] (8), the ligand is monodentate, which is also unusual for a terpyridine ligand. Key words: copper, silver, gold, terpyridine, ferrocene derivatives Les complexes du ligand Fcterpy [Fcterpy = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine] avec les metaux du groupe 11 presentent divers modes de coordination. Les reactions avec des complexes [Cu(N[O.sub.3])[(P[P.sub.3]).sub.2]] ou [M(OTf)(P[R.sub.3])] (Otf = trifluoromethylsulfonate) conduisent a des especes [M(Fcterpy)(P[R.sub.3])]X [M = Cu; X = P[F.sub.6]; P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (1); M = Ag; X = OTf; P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (2); P[Ph.sub.2]R (3); M = Au; X = OTf; P[R.sub.3] = P[Ph.sub.3] (4)] dans lesquels le ligand est coordine au metal sous la forme de chelate tridentate. Le traitement avec du [Cu[(NCME).sub.4]]P[F.sub.6] ou du Ag(OTf), dans un rapport molaire de 1:1, conduit a la formation de complexes binucleaires [[Me.sup.2][(Fcterpy).sub.2]][X.sub.2] (M = Cu (5); Ag (6)] dans lesquels le ligand est tetradentate parce que le groupe pyridine central est lie a deux metaux. La reaction avec le complexe d'or(I) [Au([C.sub.6][F.sub.5])(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) conduit au premier exemple d'un ligand terpyridine lie a trois atomes metalliques, [[Au.sub.3][([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3](Fcterpy)] (7); dans le produit de la reaction correspondante avec le derive d'or(III) [Au[([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3](O[Et.sub.2])] conduisant a la formation de [Au[([C.sub.6][F.sub.5]).sub.3]Fcterpy)] (8), le ligand est sous la forme monodentate qui est inhabituelle pour un ligand terpyridine. Mots-cles : cuivre, argent, or, terpyridine, derives du ferrocene. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The coordination chemistry of terpyridine ligands with various metals has been the subject of numerous studies, inspired by the exciting photophysical properties of metal-- polypyridyl complexes (1). In these [...]