A general diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized ferrocenyl ambiphiles enabled on a large scale by electrochemical purification

Chem Commun (Camb). 2017 May 30;53(44):6017-6020. doi: 10.1039/c7cc02469j.

Abstract

A general synthesis of highly functionalized ferrocenes, which include (P,B)- and (N,B)-ambiphiles, has been developed at a multigram scale. Diastereoselective stepwise modification of di-tert-butylated ferrocenes included the unprecedented separation of electroactive species. Bulky alkyl groups on ferrocenes ensure planar chirality of ambiphiles and enforce closer proximity of antagonist Lewis functions.