An investigation of (C5H5)Fe(C5H4–C(OBF3)–CH3)

Acetylferrocene readily forms an adduct with BF3. The product is a neutral model for protonated acetylferrocene, a species that is a crucial intermediate in the formation of 1,3,5-trisferrocenyl-benzene and other conjugated heterometallic derivatives by cyclocondensation. The title compound’s structure was determined in the solid state by X-ray diffraction and its spectroscopic properties were examined in detail, particularly the electronic excitation spectrum, which confirms the previous identification of the in situ generated protonated ketone.