Organometallic fulgides. Part 1. Synthesis and photochemistry of ferrocenyl fulgides [ferrocenylethylidene(isopropylidene)succinic anhydrides]

Abstract

A series of novel ferrocenyl fulgides have been synthesised and their photochemistry examined. Z/E Isomerisation of the alkylidene double bond was observed in each case, without the accompanying photochromic ring-closure to the tricyclic dihydronaphthalene derivatives observed with organic fulgides. A π-Hückel MO treatment of a model cyclopentadienylbutadiene fragment was used to explain the lack of desired photochemical ring-closure.