Synthesis of a diferrocenylvinylidene complex by migration of a ferrocenyl substituent

Abstract

An unusual 1,2-ferrocenyl migration has been observed following reactions of [Ru(dppe)Cp][BAr^F₄] with diferrocenylacetylene, extending the scope of group rearrangments beyond methyl (Wagner–Meerwein) and phenyl entities. Ferrocene-containing bis(alkynes) RCCArCCR (R = Fc, Ar = 1,4-phenylene; R = Ph, Ar = 1,1′-ferrocenylene) gave bimetallic bis(vinylidene) complexes following two consecutive rearrangements.