An improved photochemical synthesis of azaferrocene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(90)85359-7

A new synthesis of azaferrocene, (η⁵-C4H4N)(η⁵-C5H5)Fe, involving photo-substitution of iodide in (η⁵-C5H5)Fe(CO)2I by the η¹-pyrrolyl ligand, followed by decarbonylation of the resulting dicarbonyl η¹-pyrrolyl complex, is described.The mechanism of the former reaction is discussed in terms of the photo-induced S_RN1-type chain process.