Synthesis and cyclomercuration of 1,1'-bis[1-(arylimino)ethyl]ferrocenes

Eleven kinds of 1,1'-bis[1-(arylimino)ethyl]ferrocenes 1 and eight kinds of mercurated products of 1,1'-bis-[1-(arylimino)ethyl]ferrocene were synthesized, Their compositions and structures were confirmed by elementary analysis, TR and H-1 NMR. All of them are new compounds except Ic, The mercuration of compound 1 mainly produced the mono-ortho-mercurated products except Ib which only gave the bis-ortho-mercurated product. The yields are lower than that in the case of mono-ferrocenylketimines. The factors which influenced the mercuration were discussed.