Chemoselective synthesis of multifunctional ferrocene-containing derivatives by the cross Rauhut-Currier reaction.

A simple protocol has been developed for the chemoselective synthesis of ferrocene-containing Rauhut-Currier adducts from 1-ferrocenyl-2-nitroethene and vinyl ketones using 20 mol% of triphenylphosphine. Multifunctional ferrocene derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields (51-92%) by the coupling between the α-position of vinyl ketones and the β-position of the nitroalkene. The study of the Rauhut-Currier reaction under the described conditions showed that the strong electron-donating group at the β-position of nitroalkenes plays a significant role in the reaction outcome due to prevention of polymerization and stabilization of the zwitterionic intermediate.

Electrochemical characterization and estimation of DNA-binding capacity of a series of novel ferrocene derivatives.

The synthesis of a series of methyl 2-alkyl-5-aryl-4-ferrocenoylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylates has been achieved by [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to acryloylferrocene. The electrochemical properties of novel products were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). These techniques revealed the quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation process.