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.