The electrochemical synthesis of metallocenes, polymethylmetallocenes, ‘open metallocenes’ and metal phenylacetylides

Abstract

Abstract Metallocenes, polymethylmetallocenes, metal dimethylpentadienyls and metal phenylacetylides were synthesized by the oxidation of the metal in a solution (acetonitrile, acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran or acetonitrile/1,2‐dimethoxyethane) of the carbon acid C*H (where C*PhCC, C 5 H 5 , CH 3 C 5 H 4 , (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 , indenyl, fluorenyl and 2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl). Metallocenes were extracted with hexane and sublimed in vacuo . Metal phenylacetylides precipitated during electrolysis. Current efficiencies indicate Faradaic behaviour. The method provides a significant improvement over the conventional route via alkali metal salts of the carbon acid.