The lithiation of ferrocene and ruthenocene: A retraction and an improvement

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(95)05914-B

We reported in 1993 an efficient synthesis of ferrocene and ruthenocene mono-and dialdehydes which suggested the first truly specific monolithiation of these two metallocenes (U.T. Mueller-Westerhoff, Z. Yang and G. Ingram, J. Organomet. Chem., 463 (1993) 163). Unfortunately, these results were based on inappropriate experimental methods. We have now meticulously analyzed a wide spread of reaction conditions and have concluded that an effective monolithiation of ferrocene and of ruthenocene is possible, but not under the previously described reaction conditions.