Preparation of some organic precursors via photolytic demetallation of their iron complexes.

Nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) of chloroarenes complexed to the cyclopentadienyl iron moiety with ethyl cyanoacetate or phenylsulfonylacetonitrile in the presence of potassium carbonate in DMF resulted in the formation of arylated ethyl cyanoacetate or phenylsulfonylacetonitrile complexes. Photolytic demetallation of these complexes led to the liberation of the substituted arene ligands in high yield. This synthetic route is more advantageous than those previously reported and is a practical way to synthesise heterocycles and alkanoic acid precursors.