Cleavage of the etheric bond in cyclopentadienyliron phenolphthalein complexes.

The reaction of aliphatic primary amines with phenolphthalein-containing dicyclopentadienyliron complexes led to etheric bond cleavage. This unique cleavage reaction is due to nucleophilic attack by the amines ipso to the etheric group of the complexed arene, which is activated by coordination to the cationic cyclopentadienyliron moiety.