Unprecedented cleavage of the etheric linkage of aromatic ethers complexed to cyclopentadienyliron moieties.

A no. of substituted arene cyclopentadienyliron complexes were reacted with phenolphthalein in the presence of potassium carbonate using DMF as a solvent to prep. di-iron complexes as shown in the following scheme. Subsequent reaction with n-butylamine resulted in an unprecedented cleavage of the etheric linkage. These complexes were characterized thoroughly by 1H and 13C NMR, IR and elemental anal. Photolysis of these compds. resulted in the liberation of the free org. mol. This reaction presents a novel method for the prepn. of asym. amino complexes contg. an addnl. functional group. [Equation Omitted].