Ferrocene in a Sumanene Bowl

Significance

The authors report the synthesis and structural characterization of a ferrocene functionalized sumanene. The metallation of sumanene was performed by ligand exchange with a cyclopentadienyl group of ferrocene. The reaction proceeded in the presence of aluminum powder and aluminum chloride without solvent under argon at 120 °C for 19 h. The counteranion of the crude complex was replaced by hexafluorophosphate, giving [CpFe(sumanene)]PF₆ as an orange solid. The use of excess ferrocene and aluminum chloride selectively afforded the desired monometallated complex in 91% yield.