Ferrocene derivatives. 23. Isocyanoferrocene and isothiocyanatoferrocene

Aminoferrocene has been converted into formamidoferrocene, which exists in solution as an equilibrium mixture of two rotational isomers, a monometic cis form and a dimeric (or oligomeric) trans form. Variable-temperature 2H and 13C1H NMR spectra have been used to measure AG for the hindered internal rotation about the C-N bond. Dehydration of formamidoferrocene yields isocyanoferrocene, which has been characterized by complex formation with iron and molybdenum carbonyls. A high-yield conversion of aminoferrocene into isothiocyanatoferrocene is described.