ALIPHATIC DIOLS IN THE SYNTHESIS OF BIS(CYCLOPENTADIENYLIRON) ARENE COMPLEXES

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions (S-N,Ar) of chloroarene cyclopentadienyliron complex cations with potassium salts of dihydroxyalkanes in a THF/DMF mixture were found to give bis(cyclopentadienyliron) arene dications with aliphatic ether linkages. A series of diols were used to produce the diiron complexes (3a-m). Increasing the length of the aliphatic chain resulted in more soluble dicationic complexes. Photolytic demetallation of these diiron complexes provided an alternative route to the synthesis of terminal diphenoxyalkanes (4a-m).