Synthesis of Ferrocenyl Alkenes, Dienes, and Enynes via Samarium Diiodide Promoted Tandem Addition and Dehydration of Ferrocenyl Carbonyls with Halides

A practical method for preparation of ferrocenyl alkenes, dienes, and enynes from ferrocenyl carbonyls was explored. A one-pot operation using samarium diiodide to promote the condensation reactions of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, acetylferrocene, benzoylferrocene, and butanoylferrocene with benzyl bromides, allyl bromide, propargyl bromide, and 1-bromo-3-chlorobutane gave the olefinic products in very high yields. The condensation reactions were also achieved by using catalytic amounts of SmI(2) with magnesium to regenerate the divalent samarium reducing agent.