Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2013.03.032

Three new chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones have been synthesized by reacting 1-ferrocenyl ethanol with the corresponding 1,3-diketone reagent MeCOCH₂COR (R = Me, 4-C₆H₄OMe, Fc; Fc = (η⁵-C₅H

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2013.03.032

Accepted Manuscript
Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of chiral ferrocene-containing
β-diketones
Guillermo Ahumada, Thierry Roisnel, Sourisak Sinbandhit, Carolina Manzur, David
Carrillo, Jean-René Hamon
PII:
S0022-328X(13)00233-7
10.1016/j.jorganchem.2013.03.032
JOM 17942
DOI:
Reference:
To appear in: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
Received Date: 31 January 2013
Revised Date: 18 March 2013
Accepted Date: 21 March 2013
Please cite this article as: G. Ahumada, T. Roisnel, S. Sinbandhit, C. Manzur, D. Carrillo, J.-R. Hamon,
Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones,
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry (2013), doi: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2013.03.032.
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ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

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Highlights
► CAN-mediated oxidative CC coupling between 1-ferrocenylethanol and β-diketones
► Synthesis of three new 2-substituted 1-ferrocenylethyl-1,3-diketones
► Complete 1H and 13C assignments using 2D NMR experiments
► structures of the three compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction
► Solely the diketo tautomers are observed in liquid and solid phases

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
for TOC Synopsis use only
Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of
chiral Fferrocene-Containing β-diketones
Guillermo Ahumada, Thierry Roisnel, Sourisak Sinbandhit,
Carolina Manzur, David Carrillo, Jean-René Hamon
Chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones, 3-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-pentane-2,4-dione, 1-(4-
methoxyphenyl)-2-1-(ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione,
and
1-ferrocenyl-2-(1-
ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione (illustrated), have been synthesized using CAN-mediated
oxidative CC coupling reaction between 1-ferrocenyl ethanol and the corresponding 1,3-dione
reagent; the compounds exist solely as their diketo tautomer form both in solution and in the
solid state.

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Ms. Ref. No.: JORGANCHEM-D-13-00084
Revised version
Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of
chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones
Guillermo Ahumadaa, Thierry Roisnelb, Sourisak Sinbandhitc,
Carolina Manzura,* David Carrilloa, Jean-René Hamonb*
a
b
c
Laboratorio de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica
de Valparaíso, Campus Curauma, Avenida Universidad 330, Valparaíso, Chile
UMR 6226 «Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes», CNRS-Université de Rennes 1,
Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
Centre Régional de Mesures Physiques de l’Ouest, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de
Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
Corresponding authors. Phone: 56 32 227 49 32, E-mail address: cmanzur@ucv.cl (C.
Manzur);Phone: 33 223 23 59 58, E-mail address: jean-rene.hamon@univ-rennes1.fr (J.-R.
Hamon).

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ABSTRACT
Three new chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones have been synthesized by reacting
1-ferrocenyl ethanol with the corresponding 1,3-diketone reagent MeCOCH2COR (R = Me,
4-C6H4OMe, Fc; Fc = (η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4)), using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN)
mediated C-C bond formation. These compounds identified as 3-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-pentane-
2,4-dione (1), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione (2), and 1-
ferrocenyl-2-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione (3), have been isolated as air and thermally
stable microcrystalline solids in 79, 63 and 44% yields, respectively. Compounds 2 and 3
were formed in 63:37 and 88:12 diastereomeric ratios, respectively. They have been fully
characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR spectra, mass spectrometry, and their complete
assignments have been conducted using 2D NMR experiments. In addition, their molecular
identity and geometry have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and both
solution and solid state measurements have shown that the three complexes exist solely as
their diketo tautomers.
Keywords: ferrocenyl-derivatives; chiral β-diketones; C-C coupling; X-ray structures

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1. Introduction
In the past decades, β-diketones have attracted a growing interest in the synthesis of
biologically active heterocyclic compounds such as diazepines, benzodiazepines, pyrazoles,
isoxazoles, imidazoles and benzymidazoles [1,2]. β-diketones exhibit also a variety of
pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antiviral and systematic insecticidal agents and
have also shown potential antioxidant and antitumor activities [3]. Likewise, this class of
precursor have extensively been used in the synthesis of asymmetric tridentate Schiff base
ligands through the imine and amine nitrogen atoms and the carbonyl oxygen, also called
“half unit” [4], via mono-condensation with aliphatic and aromatic diamines [4-6], as well as
for the design of transition metal complexes [7]. In most β–diketones, the substituents on the
central carbon are hydrogen atoms or classical organic groups [1,8] although some examples
containing achiral [9] and chiral organometallic substituents are known [10,11].
Cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) has emerged as a versatile reagent in a variety of
synthetic transformations where the chemistry of cerium(IV) dominates through the oxidation
of organic molecules via radical pathway [12]. This compound is a convenient and excellent
reagent for effecting a wide variety of synthetic transformations [13]; its solubility in organic
solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile, its low toxicity, its ease of handling, and its high
reactivity have contributed to a general acceptance as a reagent of choice for one-electron
oxidations [12]. Today, the application of the radical methodology in organic synthesis has
evolved as a prominent tool in this area [14].
For several years, we have been interested in the synthesis of ferrocenyl-containing
diketones as starting materials for the preparation of assymmetric Schiff base complexes
[6,15]. In our previous work, both the metalloligand and its derivatized multinuclear
compounds presented the ferrocenyl unit always bounded to the carbonyl atom of the 1,3-
dione entity. Thus, in pursuit of our research work aimed at extending the scope of acyclic
Schiff base metalloligands, we decided to synthetize new β-diketones functionalized at the
central carbon with the chiral 1-ferrocenylethyl moiety [FcCH(CH3)] (Fc = (η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-
C5H4)), using the CAN-mediated C-C bond formation between ferrocenylethanol and the
apropriate 1,3-diketones. Herein, we report on the synthesis, the full analytical and
spectroscopic characterization, and the crystal and molecular structures of such three chiral
organometallic β-diketones.

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2. Experimental
2.1. General Experimental Methods
All manipulations were carried out under dinitrogen atmosphere using standard
Schlenk techniques. Reagents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received.
1-ferrocenyl
ethanol
[16],
1-ferrocenyl-1,3-butanedione
[15a]
and
1-(4-
methoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-dione [17] were synthesized according to the procedures reported
in the literature. Melting points were measured in evacuated capillaries and were not
corrected. The solid FT-IR spectra were recorded from KBr disks on a Perkin Elmer model
1
1600 spectrophotometer in the range 4000-450 cm-1. H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded
on a multinuclear Bruker AC 400 and Bruker DPX 500 spectrometers using CDCl3 as solvent.
Chemical shifts are reported in ppm relative to tetramethylsilane with the residual solvent
proton and carbon resonances used as internal standards. Coupling constants (J) are reported
in Hertz (Hz), and integrations are reported as number of protons. High resolution
electrospray ionization mass spectra (HRMS ESI) were obtained at the Centre Régional de
Mesures Physiques de l’Ouest (CRMPO, Rennes) on a Bruker Q-Tof 2 spectrometer.
Microanalyses were conducted on a Thermo-FINNIGAN Flash EA 1112 CHNS/O analyzer
by the Microanalytical Service of the CRMPO at the University of Rennes 1, France. Cyclic
voltammetry (CV) measurements were performed using a Radiometer Analytical model PGZ
100 all-in one potentiostat, using a three-electrode CEMM with glassy carbon working,
Ag/AgCl reference and platinum wire auxiliary electrodes. The ferrocene/ferrocenium
(FcH0/+) couple was located at E = 0.510 V, where E1/2 was calculated from the average of
½
the oxidation and reduction peak potentials.
2.2. Synthesis of 3-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-pentane-2,4-dione (1)
In a Schlenk tube, 0.70 g (3.0 mmol) of 1-ferrocenyl ethanol and 0.30 mL (3.0 mmol)
of 2,4-pentanedione were dissolved in 8 mL of acetonitrile at room temperature (r.t.). After 5
min of stirring, 0.082 g (0.15 mmol) of cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) (5% molar)
were added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min. and then evaporated under reduced
pressure. The solid residue was mixed with 5 mL of water and extracted with 10 mL of
diethyl ether. The organic phase was then dried over MgSO4, filtered off and evaporated
under reduced pressure. The crude solid was chromatographed on silica gel using
hexane:ethyl acetate (8:2 v/v) to give 1 as a yellow solid. Recrystallization by slow
evaporation of a saturated solution of diethyl ether at r.t. for 2 days provided 0.735 g (2.36
mmol, 79%). Suitable single crystals for the X-ray diffraction study were selected from this

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crop. M.p.: 81°C (dec). Anal. calcd for C17H20O2Fe (312.18 g mol-1): C, 65.40; H, 6.46.
Found: C, 65.26; H, 6.47%. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3097(w)
ν
(C-H arom); 2994(m), 2977(m),
1
2949(m), 2923(m), 2852(m)
ν
(C-H aliph); 1722(vs), 1700(vs)
ν
(C=O). H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3): 1.32 (d, 3 H, 3JH,H = 6.8 Hz, CHCH3), 1.86 (s, 3 H, COCH3), 2.11 (s, 3 H, COCH3),
3.32 (dq, 1 H, 3JH,H = 6.8 and 10.0 Hz, CHCH3), 3.57 (d, 1 H, 3JH,H = 10.0 Hz, CH), 3.99 (m,
1 H, Hα C5H4), 4.02 (br s, 1 H, Hα’ C5H4), 4.07 (br s, 1 H, Hβ C5H4), 4.11 (br s, 1 H, Hβ’
C5H4), 4.13 (s, 5 H, C5H5). 13C{1H} NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): 18.30 (CHCH3), 29.35 and
31.95 (COCH3), 34.64 (CHCH3), 65.19 (Cα’ C5H4), 67.49 (Cβ C5H4), 67.63 (Cβ’ C5H4), 68.58
(Cα C5H4), 68.64 (C5H5), 77.21 (CH), 91.49 (Cipso C5H4), 203.43 and 204.49 (COCH3). CV:
E1/2 = 517 mV (∆Ep = 134 mV).
2.3. Synthesis of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione (2)
In a Schlenk tube, 0.570 g (2.46 mmol) of 1-ferrocenyl ethanol and 0.473 g (2.46
mmol) of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-dione were dissolved in 8.0 mL of acetonitrile at
r.t. and stirred for 5 min. Then, 0.067 g (0.12 mmol) of CAN (5% molar) was added, and the
reaction mixture stirred for 4 h. The volatils were evaporated under reduced pressure, the
solid residue was mixed with 5 mL of water and extracted with 10 mL of diethyl ether. The
organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered off and evaporated under reduced pressure. The
residue obtained was chromatographed on silica gel using hexane:ethyl acetate (8:2 v/v) to
give 2 as a yellow solid. Recrystallization by slow evaporation of a saturated diethyl ether
solution at r.t. for 2 days provided 0,628 g (1.55 mmol, 63%). Suitable single crystals for X-
ray diffraction study were selected from this crop. M.p.: 89-90°C. Anal. Calcd for C23H24FeO3
(404.27 g mol-1): C, 68.33; H, 5.98. Found: C, 68.62; H, 5.70 %. HRMS ESI+ m/z calcd For
C23H24FeO3: 404.10748, Found: 404.1071 (relative error: 1 ppm) [M].+. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3090
1
(w)
ν
(C-H arom); 2994(w), 2969(w), 2936(w)
ν
(C-H aliph); 1709(vs), 1672(vs)
ν
(C=O). H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3), major diastereomer (63%) 1.33 (d, 3JH,H = 6.8 Hz, CHCH3), 1.94 (s,
3
COCH3), 3.58 (dq, JH,H = 6.8 and 9.2 Hz, CHCH3), 3.85 (s, OCH3), 4.02 and 4.07 (α,α’
C5H4), 4.09 and 4.10 (2 x m, Hβ,β’ C5H4), 4.14 (s, C5H5), 4.38 (d, 3JH,H = 9.2 Hz, CH), 6.90 (d,
3JH,H = 9.0 Hz, C6H4), 7.89 (d, 3JH,H = 9.0 Hz, C6H4); minor diastereomer (37%) 1.40 (d, 3JH,H
3
= 6.9 Hz, CHCH3), 2.15 (s, COCH3), 3.60 (dq, JH,H = 6.9 and 10.2 Hz, CHCH3), 3.81 (s,
OCH3), 3.75 and 3.95 (2 x m, Hβ,β’ C5H4), 3.96 (m, Hα C5H4), 3.97 (m, Hα’ C5H4), 4.10 (s,
3
3
3
C5H5), 4.35 (d, JH,H = 10.2 Hz, CH), 6.82 (d, JH,H = 9.0 Hz, C6H4), 7.75 (d, JH,H = 9.0 Hz,
C6H4). 13C{1H} NMR(100 MHz, CDCl3): major diastereomer (63%) 18.79 (CHCH3), 29.83

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(COCH3), 34.51 (CHCH3), 55.53 (OCH3), 65.61 (Cα C5H4), 67.38 and 67.63 (Cβ,β’ C5H4),
68.51 (Cα’ C5H4), 68.61 (C5H5), 71.02 (CH), 92.01 (Cipso C5H4), 113.94 (C6H4), 131.03
(C6H4), 130.30 (Cipso-C C6H4), 163.95 (Cipso-O C6H4), 193.47 (COC6H4), 203.75 (COCH3);
minor diastereomer (37%) 18.20 (CHCH3), 27.97 (COCH3), 34.35 (CHCH3), 55.45 (OCH3),
65.25 (Cα C5H4), 67.21 and 67.26 (Cβ,β’ C5H4), 68.55 (C5H5), 68.99 (Cα’ C5H4), 72.04 (CH),
92.00 (Cipso C5H4), 113.73 (C6H4), 130.47 (Cipso-C C6H4), 130.92 (C6H4), 163.71 (Cipso
-
OC6H4), 194.44 (COC6H4), 203.67 (COCH3). CV: E1/2 = 504 (∆Ep = 243 mV).
2.4. Synthesis of 1-ferrocenyl-2-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione (3)
In a Schlenk tube, 0.70 g (3.0 mmol) of 1-ferrocenyl ethanol and 0.81 g (3.0 mmol) of
1-ferrocenyl-1,3-butanedione were dissolved in 8.0 mL of acetonitrile at r.t., and stirred for 5
min; then, 0.082 g (0.15 mmol) of CAN (5% molar) were added. The reaction mixture was
stirred for 48 h and then evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude solid was mixed with
5 mL of water and extracted with 10 mL of diethyl ether. The organic solution was dried over
MgSO4, filtered off and then evaporated under reduced pressure. The solid residue was
washed with methanol until no coloration of solvent was observed, and dried under vacuum to
afford 0.633 g (1.31 mmol), 44% of 3 as a red solid. Suitable single crystals for X-ray
diffraction study were obtained by slow evaporation of a saturated dichloromethane solution
at r.t. for 3 days. M.p.: 150°C. Anal. Calcd for C26H26Fe2O2 (482.19 g mol-1): C, 64.76; H,
5.44. Found: C, 64.78; H, 5.36 %. HRMS ESI+ m/z calcd for C26H26O256Fe2: 482.06316,
Found: 482.0628 (relative error: 1 ppm) [M].+. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3103 (w)
ν
(C-H Arom);
1
2967(w), 2933(w) (C-H aliph); 1702(vs), 1661(vs)
ν
ν
(C=O). For the assignments of H and
13C NMR spectra of 3, -Fe1 and -Fe2 refer to the [FcCH(CH3)-] and [FcCO-] fragments,
respectively. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): major diastereomer (88%) 1.37 (d, 3JH,H = 7.0 Hz,
3
3
CHCH3), 2.20 (s, COCH3), 3.54 (dq, JH,H = 7.0 and 10.7 Hz, CHCH3), 3.74 (d, JH,H = 10.7
Hz, CH), 3.97 (s, C5H5-Fe2), 3.99 (m, Hβ C5H4-Fe1), 4.04 (m, Hβ’ C5H4-Fe1), 4.05 (m, Hα
C5H4-Fe1), 4.13 (s, C5H5-Fe1), 4.18 (m, Hα’ C5H4-Fe1), 4.41, 4.44, 4.51 and 4.67 (4 x m,
Hα,α’,β,β’ C5H4-Fe2). 13C{1H} NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): major diastereomer (88%) 18.10
(CHCH3), 26.79 (COCH3), 33.59 (CHCH3), 65.25 (Cα C5H4-Fe1), 67.25 (Cβ C5H4-Fe1),
67.50 (Cβ’ C5H4-Fe1), 68.62 (C5H5-Fe1), 69.54 and 69.59 (Cα,α’ C5H4-Fe2), 69.75 (C5H5-
Fe2), 69.94 (Cα’ C5H4-Fe1), 72.54 and 72.78 (Cβ,β’ C5H4-Fe2), 75.07 (CH), 80.01 (Cipso C5H4-
Fe2), 92.25 (Cipso C5H4-Fe1), 199.14 (CO-Fc2), 204.07 (COCH3). CV: E1/2 = 505 mV (∆Ep=
103 mV), E1/2 = 803 mV (∆Ep = 121 mV).

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2.5. Crystal structure determinations
X-ray data for single crystals of complexes 1-3, obtained as described above, were
collected at 150(2) K on a Bruker APEXII AXS diffractometer, equipped with a CCD
detector, using Mo-Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å). For each compound, a crystal of
appropriate size was coated in Paratone-N oil and mounted on a Kaptan loop. The loop was
transferred to the diffractometer, centered in the beam, and cooled by a nitrogen flow low-
temperature apparatus that had been previously calibrated by a thermocouple placed at the
same position as the crystal. The structures were solved by direct methods using SIR97
program [18], and then refined with full-matrix least-square methods based on F2 (SHELXL-
97) [19], with the aid of WINGX program [20]. All non-hydrogen atoms were refined with
anisotropic atomic displacement parameters. Hydrogen atoms were finally included in their
calculated positions. The disorder observed for the carbon atoms of the two cyclopentadienyl
rings in 3 was modelled using two positions per carbon with a fixed 0.5 occupancy for each
carbon. A summary of the details about crystal data, collection parameters and refinement are
documented in Table 1, and additional crystallographic details are in the CIF files. ORTEP
and Ball-and-Stick views are generated using OLEX2 [21].
Table 1 Crystallographic data, details of data collection and structure refinement parameters
for compounds 1-3
1
2
3
Empirical Formula
Formula mass, g mol-1
Collection T, K
crystal system
space group
a (Å)
C17H20FeO2
312.18
C23H24FeO3
404.27
C26H26Fe2O2
482.17
150(2)
150(2)
150(2)
Monoclinic
P21/a
Monoclinic
P21/n
Monoclinic
P21/a
10.6687(12)
7.7702(10)
18.331(3)
105.896(5)
1461.5(3)
4
1.419
0.55 x 0.36 x
0.14
656
1.030
3.29 to 27.47
-13/13, -9/9, -
23/23
10382
3313
5.6433(4)
50.027(3)
7.3947(5)
111.116(4)
1947.5(2)
4
11.6837(9)
10.9004(10)
16.3140(15)
94.480(4)
2071.4(3)
4
b (Å)
c (Å)
β (°)
V (Å3)
Z
Dcalcd (g cm-3)
Crystal size (mm)
1.379
1.546
0.51 x 0.24 x 0.57 x 0.13 x
0.04
848
0.794
0.1
1000
1.421
F(000)
abs coeff (mm-1)
θ range (°)
range h,k,l
2.98 to 27.47 3.13 to 27.39
-6/7, -64/64, - -13/15, -
9/9
15381
4408
12/14, -21/13
13698
4645
No. total refl.
No. unique refl.

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Comp. to θmax (%)
99.4
98.6
98.8
Max/min transmission
0.866/0.682
0.969/0.780
4408/0/223
R1 = 0.1255
0.868/0.717
4645/0/252
R1 = 0.0394
Data/Restraints/Parameters 3313/0/184
Final R
[I>2σ(I)]
R indices (all data)
R1 = 0.0317
wR2 = 0.0745
R1 = 0.0402
wR2 = 0.0784
1.035
0.346 and -0.395 0.990 and -
1.906
wR2 = 0.2479 wR2 = 0.0936
R1 = 0.1600 R1 = 0.0538
wR2 = 0.2613 wR2 = 0.1012
1.146
Goodness of fit / F2
Largest diff. Peak/hole
(eÅ-3)
1.043
0.644 and -
0.502
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Synthesis and characterization
The syntheses of the organometallic β-diketones 1-3 have been carried out in
acetonitrile, at room temperature for 0.5-48 h, by CAN-mediated oxidative C-C coupling of 1-
ferrocenyl ethanol with three different β-dicarbonyls compounds (Scheme 1), using the
slightly modified procedure described by Xu et al. [11]. Compounds 1-3 were isolated as
microcrystalline yellow (1 and 2) and red (3) solids in relatively good yields ranging from
79% for 1 to 63% for 2 and 44% for 3. This may suggest that the sterics play a significant role
in the formation of the products as the yields decrease and the reaction times increase when
the steric hindrance of the substituents of the starting diketone reagents increases. The
electron donating ability of both 4-methoxyphenyl and ferrocenyl groups are known to be
similar [22]. On the other hand, compound 1 was previously prepared in 90% yield by
reaction of 1-ferrocenyl ethanol with 2,4-pentanedione, in water at 80 °C for 24 h [10]. In
addition to the reported analytical and spectroscopic characterization of 1, we provide here its
complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments using two-dimensional NMR methods, as well as the
details of its crystalline structure determination.

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Scheme 1 Synthesis of 1-ferrocenylethyl containing β-diketones 1-3
Complexes 1-3 are air and moisture insensitive, thermally stable and exhibit good
solubility in non polar organic solvents such as hexane, diethyl ether, or dichloromethane.
Their composition and identity were deduced from elemental analysis, mass spectrometry,
FT-IR spectra, and mono- and two-dimensional NMR experiments (see Section 2).
Additionally, the crystal and molecular structures of the three compounds were solved by X-
ray diffraction analysis.
The elemental analyses were consistent with the proposed formulae and the mass
spectra of 2 and 3 showed a peak at m/z = 404.1071 and 482.0628, respectively, that agree
with the values expected for the radical cations [M].+.
The solid FT-IR spectra of compounds 1-3 exhibit similar features indicating
analogous molecular structures. One of the weak C-H stretching absorption bands in the
3100-3090 cm-1 range can be observed in the three compounds. On the other hand, the intense
absorption bands observed in the 1720-1650 cm-1 range are due to the
ν(C=O) stretching
mode of the carbonyl groups.
Compounds 2 and 3 are formed in 63:37 and 88:12 diasteroisomeric ratios, respectively.
No attempts to separate the diastereomers were carried out. However, a complete assignment
of the resonances for both diastereomers has been achieved for 2 whereas only the signals of
the major diastereomer can be totally attributed for 3.
1
The H NMR spectra of complexes 1-3, recorded at 298 K in CDCl3, exhibited the
1
expected resonance patterns consistent with the proposed structures. In each H NMR
spectrum, the [Fc-CH(CH3)-CH] framework is clearly identified with the following
characteristic multiplicity scheme. The ferrocenyl fragment consists of a group of five signals
of relative intensities 5:1:1:1:1 in the range 3.75–4.20 ppm which are assigned to the five
protons of the free C5H5 ring, and to the two pairs of diastereotopic Hα,Hα’ and Hβ,Hβ’ protons
of the substituted cyclopentadienyl ring. The methyl and the two types of methyne (that of the
ethyl unit and of the 1,3-dione portion) protons show up as doublet at 1.32 <
δ < 1.40 ppm, as
double quarted in the range 3.32-3.60 ppm, and as doublet between 3.57 and 4.38 ppm,
respectively. In addition, the diastereotopic acetyl groups of compound 1 appeared as two
sharp singlets at 1.86 and 2.11 ppm whereas in the spectrum of 2, the acetyl and anisyl
protons of the major and minor diastereomers are observed as two sets of signals at 1.94/2.15
and 3.85/3.81, 6.90/6.82, 7.89/7.75 ppm, respectively. Lastly, the spectrum of the bimetallic

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derivative 3 displayed also a sharp singlet at 2.20 ppm assigned to the acetyl protons, and a
second group of five signals with integration ratio 5:1:1:1:1 due to the ferrocenoyl fragment
attached to a chiral carbon center. The free C5H5 ring resonates as a sharp singlet at 3.97 ppm
whereas the four downfield shifted multiplets, in the range 4.41-4.67 ppm, are attributed to
the two pairs of diastereotopic protons of the substituted ring. Interestingly, the 1H NMR data
showed that compounds 1-3 exist exclusively as their diketonic tautomeric form in solution.
This behavior is in accordance with that reported for similar ferrocenylmethyl diketones for
which the keto tautomer predominates in solution [9a].
Consistent with the proposed structures and clearly demonstrating their unsymmetrical
nature, the decoupled 13C{1H} NMR spectra of complexes 1–3 exhibited for their common
[Fc-CH(CH3)-CH] framework, the expected characteristic resonance pattern of 9 lines. They
are assigned to: (i) the free C5 ring about 68.6 ppm, (ii) the two pairs of diastereotopic Cα,α’
and Cβ,β’ carbons in the range 65.2-70.0 ppm, and the quaternary carbon at 92 ppm of the
substituted C5 moiety, (iii) the methyl, the exocyclic CH and the central 1,3-dione CH groups
at around 18, 34 and between 71 and 77 ppm, respectively. In addition, the two diastereotopic
acetyl groups of compound 1 are seen as two-fold two signals at 29.35/31.95 ppm (CH3) and
203.43/204.49 ppm (C=O). In both compounds 2 and 3, the carbonyl carbon atom linked to
the aromatic ring, showing up at 193.47:194.44 ppm for 2 and at 199.14 ppm for 3, is slightly
upfield shifted vs that of the acetyl group which appeared at 203.75:203.67 and 204.07 ppm,
respectively, as a consequence of the ring current effect. As expected from the above
mentioned proton NMR data of 3, the ferrocenyl part of the ferrocenoyl group gave rise to six
resonances attributed to the free C5-ring and to the five magnetically inequivalent carbon
nuclei of the substituted cyclopentadienyl ring.
3.2. X-ray Crystallographic Studies
Perspective views of compounds 1-3 with the atom labeling scheme are shown in Fig.
1, with selected bond distances and angles listed in Table 2. The molecular structures show
that each compound consists of one 1-ferrocenylethyl group linked to the central carbon of a
1,3-diketone system. Complexes 1 and 3 cristallize in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space
group P21/a, whereas the β-diketone 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space
group P21/n, with in each case a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. Crystal cell of
compound 1 contains both enantiomers with (R) and (S) configuration for the chiral C(11)
carbon. In the crystal cells of compounds 2 and 3, the chiral carbon atoms C(11) and C(13)

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are found with the (S,S) and (S,R) configuration, respectively. Both diastereomeric forms are
related by a symmetry plane with inversion of the configuration at each carbon.
Fig. 1 Molecular structures of 1 (top), 2 (middle), and 3 (bottom) with the atom numbering
schemes. Hydrogen atoms have been omitted for clarity. Thermal ellipsoids are drawn at 40%
probability.
Table 2 Selected bond distances (Å) and angles (°) for compounds 1-3
1
2
3
Bond distances
C(10)-C(11)
C(11)-C(12)
C(11)-C(13)
C(13)-C(14)
C(13)-C(16)
C(14)-O(1)
1.504(2)
1.508(10)
1.506(3)
1.528(3)
1.546(3)
1.537(3)
1.539(3)
1.201(3)
1.531(2)
1.547(2)
1.529(2)
1.540(2)
1.210(2)
1.524(12)
1.547(10)
1.549(12)
1.534(11)
1.204(10)

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C(16)-O(2)
C(16)-C(17)
Fe(1)-C(Cp) avg
Fe(1)-C(Cp’) avg
1.211(2)
1.502(2)
2.0433
1.227(10)
1.501(11)
2.0524
1.219(3)
1.469(3)
2.046
2.0468
2.0504
2.047
Angles
C(10)-C(11)-C(13)
C(11)-C(13)-C(14)
C(11)-C(13)-C(16)
C(14)-C(13)-C(16)
C(13)-C(14)-O(1)
C(13)-C(16)-O(2)
110.63(13)
112.43(13)
110.15(13)
106.99(13)
122.00(15)
120.64(16)
108.6(6)
112.0(7)
111.4(6)
105.6(7)
119.8(8)
120.7(7)
110.57(19)
110.92(19)
113.34(19)
107.39(19)
120.4(2)
121.7(2)
Abbreviations: Cp = C5H5, Cp’ = C5H4.
For each compound, the ferrocenyl group with co-planar and eclipsed
cyclopentadienyl rings features a linear sandwich structure with a typical [η5-Fe-η5]
coordination mode. The iron atom is coordinated to the free and substituted cyclopentadienyl
rings at a ring centroid-iron distances of 1.651/1.649 Å (for 1), 1.660/1.655 Å (for 2),
1.659/1.648 (Fe1) and 1.657/1.651 (Fe2) Å (for 3), with ring centroid-iron-ring centroid angle
of 176.6° (for 1), 179.1° (for 2), 179.2 (Fe1) and 177.9° Fe2) (for 3), respectively, indicating
that there is a Fe(II) oxidation state in each metallocene [23].
In agreement with FT-IR and NMR data (see Sections 2 and 3.1), the crystal structures
confirm that the three complexes 1-3 exist solely as their diketo tautomer. The measured
C(14)-O(1) and C(16)-O(2) bond lenghts (see Table 2) are typical of C=O double bonds [24],
as found for another structurally characteerized non-enolized 1,3-diketone [25]. Moreover,
the C-C bond distances (> 1.52 Å) and angles (~ 110°) around the central C(13) carbon are
those expected for a sp3-hybridized carbon atom (Table 2).
On the other hand, within complex 3 the fragment C(17)-C(16)-O(2) is almost co-
planar with the substituted cyclopentadienyl ring C(17)...C(21) with a dihedral angle of 12.8°.
This is typical of the conformations observed in simple acyl ferrocenes Fc-COR [26].
Similarly in 2, the fragment C(17)-C(16)-O(2) is almost coplanar (10.1°) with the phenyl ring
of the anisyl moiety.
Within the crystal structures of 1-3 there are a number of short intermolecular
contacts. For instance, cyclopentadienyl-H···π interactions are observed for each compound
(Table 3), whereas intermolecular C-H···O hydrogen bonds (Table 4) generate a dimeric unit
in compound 2 creating a plane of symmetry between the molecules, and a chain structure in
complex 3 (Fig. 2).

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Fig. 2 Intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions forming a dimeric unit in 2 (left) and a
chain structure in 3 (right).
Table 3 Cyclopentadienyl –H···π Interactions
Compd D-H···A
D-H (Å)
0.95
0.95
0.95
0.95
H···A (Å)
2.97
2.86
2.75
2.67
D···A (Å)
3.697(2)
3.626(10)
3.626(10)
3.594(3)
D-H···A (°)
132
135
149
164
C17-H17···Cg2i
1
2
C15-H15B···Cg2i
C23-H23C···Cg3ii
C25B-H25B···Cg3i
3
Symmetry Codes: (i) x,y,z; (ii) 2-x,-y,1-z
Table 4 Hydrogen Bonding interactions parameters
D-H···A
D-H (Å)
0.95
H···A (Å)
2.67
D···A (Å)
3.594(3)
3.357
D—H···A (°)
164
Compd
C21—H21···O3ii
C26A—H26A···O2i
2
3
0.95
2.52
147
Symmetry Codes: (i) -1/2+x,1/2-y,z; (ii) 3-x,-y,2-z
3.3. Cyclic voltammetry
The electrochemical features of compounds 1-3 were investigated by cyclic
voltammetry in dichloromethane solution containing 0.1 M n-Bu4NPF6 as supporting
electrolyte. All measurements were carried out in 10-3 M solutions at room temperature in the
potential range +1.5 to -1.0 V with scan rate 100 mV s-1. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) of
solutions containing 1-3 show a chemically reversible oxidation process with current ratio
ipa/ipc equal to unity, at E1/2 values identical, within the experimental errors, to that of the
FcH/FcH+ couple (E1/2 = 0.510 V) taken as internal reference. The anodic to cathodic peak-to-
peak separations are similar to that observed for ferrocene under identical conditions,
indicating that it is likely a one-electron oxidation of the 1-ferrocenylethyl entity to the
respective ferrocenium species 1+, 2+ and 3+ at the electrode. In addition, the CV of 3
exhibited a second reversible wave at E1/2 = 0.803 V attributable to the mono-electronic
oxidation of the ferrocenoyl moiety. As the two redox units are separated by saturated carbon

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bridge composed of four single C-C bonds, they must behave independently without metal-
metal interaction between the iron centers [27]. Such a strong positive shift (0.293 V) with
respect to free ferrocene, is presumably due to the electron withdrawing effect of the cationic
acylketone substituent. This value compares well with the 0.250 V vs FcH/FcH+ value found
for acetylferrocene [28], for which the acetyl substituent is expected to be less electron
withdrawing than the cationic diketonic group in 3.
4. Conclusion
In summary, we have described the successful preparation, using CAN-mediated C-C
bond forming reaction, of three chiral ferrocene-containing β-diketones starting from 1-
ferrocenylethanol. The microcristalline compounds were isolated in reasonably good yields
and were fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods, including their total
assignment using the 2D NMR technology, and by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Additionally, both solution and solid state measurements have shown that the three complexes
exist solely as their diketo tautomers. The potential applications of these chiral ferrocene-
containing 1,3-diketones as building blocks for the synthesis of new chiral Schiff bases and
their corresponding transition metal complexes, as well as chiral diazepines are underway and
will be described in future publications.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. P. Jehan (CRMPO, Rennes) for assistance with HRMS
experiments. This research has been performed as part of the Chilean-French International
Associated Laboratory for ‘’Inorganic Functional Materials’’ (LIAMIF-CNRS N°836).
Financial support from the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
[FONDECYT (Chile), grant no. 1090310 (C.M. and D.C.)], the Vicerrectoría de Investigación
y Estudios Avanzados, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile (C.M. and D.C.),
the CNRS and the Université de Rennes 1 is gratefully acknowledged. G.A. thanks the
CONICYT (Chile) for support of a graduate fellowship.
Appendix A. Supplementary material
CCDC 922490 (for 1), 922491 (for 2), and 922492 (for 3) contain the supplementary
crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge from the
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.as.uk/data_request/cif.

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Highlights
► CAN-mediated oxidative CC coupling between 1-ferrocenylethanol and β-diketone
reagents
►
Synthesis of 3-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-pentane-2,4-dione, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-1-
(ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione, and 1-ferrocenyl-2-(1-ferrocenylethyl)-butane-1,3-dione
► Complete 1H and 13C assignments using 2D NMR experiments
► structures of the three compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction
► Both solution and solid state measurements show that the three complexes exist
solely as their diketo tautomers