Unsymmetrically disubstituted ferrocenes. Part XIII. Neighbouring group participation in the conversion of 2-substituted ferrocenylaceto-nitriles into ferrocenylacetamides

Abstract

In the presence of cyanide ion, substituted 1-cyanomethyl-2-hydroxymethylferrocenes were converted into the corresponding amides while at the same time the hydroxy-group was displaced by cyanide. The effect of solvent and substituent groups on this reaction has been studied and evidence for participation by the neighbouring hydroxy-group in the conversion of the cyanide into the amide is presented.