FERROCENYLPYRIDINES - A NEW SYNTHESIS OF 4'-FERROCENYLTERPYRIDINE AND THE SINGLE-CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF A C-3-FERROCENOPHANE, [(ETA-C5H4CHCH2C(O)2-C5H4N)2CHC(O)2-C5H4N]FE

The synthesis and characterization of the new ligand 4'-ferrocenylterpyridine is reported together with the synthesis and characterization of a new C-3-ferrocenophane containing three acylpyridine units. The terpyridine ligand was prepared in a two-step synthesis from ferrocenecarbaldehyde by aldol condensation and subsequent cyclization. Attempts to prepare the analogous 1,1'-bis-terpyridylferrocene derivative resulted in the formation of a new ferrocenophane: a consequence of inter-annular attack of an anion generated on the side chain of one cyclopentadienyl ring on a carbonyl centre on the side chain of the other cyclopentadienyl ring. The single crystal X-ray structure of this ferrocenophane, [(eta-C5H4CHCH2C(O)2-C5H4N)(2)CHC(O)2-C5H4N]Fdichloromethane solvate, [Fe(C33H27N3O3)].CH2Cl2, has been determined.