Conformational effects upon the stability and reactivity of the [1.1]ferrocenophan-1-yl and diferrocenylmethyl cations

Abstract

Rate and equilibrium constants have been measured for the interconversion of the [1.1]ferrocenophan-1-yl cation and [1.1]ferrocenophan-1-ol in H₂O–MeCN (1 : 1 w/w) and compared with the corresponding values for interconversion of the diferrocenylmethyl cation and diferrocenylmethanol. The former cation is ca. 30 times more reactive towards addition of H₂O than is the non-cyclic analogue and is formed ca. 325 times faster by heterolysis of the alcohol at a given acid concentration.