BORON TRIFLUORIDE ETHERATE AS A CATALYST IN ACYLATION OF FERROCENE

Ferrocene was acylated in acetic or propionic anhydride, in presence of boron trifluoride etherate giving acetyl ferrocene (1) (in quantitative yields) or propionyl ferrocene (2) (in high yields). A more general procedure is based on the reaction between ferrocene and carboxylic anhydrides or acyl halides in presence of ascorbic acid. Acetyl, propionyl, benzoyl, anisoyl and 3-phenyl propionyl ferrocenes (1–5) were obtained in moderate to high yields.