title: Reaction of 1,1'-divinyl ferrocene with one-electron oxidants: entry into functionalised [4]ferrocenophanes and observation of an isotope-dependent chemoselectivity effect.
abstract: 1,1'-Divinyl ferrocene (2) reacts with K(3)[Fe(CN)(6)] under basic biphasic conditions to give a [4]ferrocenophane (4) in good yield. Incorporating deuterium labels into the internal positions of the vinyl groups of 2 affects the chemoselectivity of the reaction; thus under identical reaction conditions, [D(2)]-2 reacts to provide a diol-functionalised [4]ferrocenophane, [D(2)]-D/L-6 in addition to the expected keto-alcohol, [D(1)]-4. Variants on this one-electron oxidative cyclisation methodology can be used to give other [4]ferrocenophanes; thus, the reaction of 2 with CuCl(2) in MeOH or iPrOH leads to dialkoxy [4]ferrocenophanes 19 and 20, respectively, whereas the reaction of 2 with benzyl carbamate in the presence of tBuOCl gives a bis(carbamate)[4]ferrocenophane, 21. Mechanisms to account for the formation of the products, the stereoselectivity, and the unusual isotope-dependent chemoselectivity in the reaction of 2 and [D(2)]-2 with K(3)[Fe(CN)(6)] are proposed.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Renate M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gleixner
authors.forename: Kévin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: MaryJane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tremayne
authors.forename: Benson M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kariuki
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Male
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: Liam R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004583:Electrons; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007554:Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000075163:Metallocenes; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016877:Oxidants / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007554:Isotopes; D000075163:Metallocenes; D016877:Oxidants; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; C004998:ferrocene