Photolysis of ferrocenyl-olefins and -ethers in alcohols

Abstract

The irradiation of solutions of 2-ferrocenylpropene and ferrocenylethylene in methanol and ethanol has been studied. The primary photochemical process is interpreted as involving ferrocenyl carbocation intermediates which yield ferrocenyl ethers. These ethers are themselves photolabile, yielding 2-ferrocenylpropane and 2,3-diferrocenyl-2,3-dimethylbutane from 2-ferrocenylpropene, and ferrocenylethane and 2,3-diferrocenylbutane from ferrocenylethylene. These latter reactions are thought to involve ferrocenyl free radicals.