Mercuration of ferrocenyl- p -tolyl sulfoxide and its conversion to 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenes

1-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)-2-(chloromercurio)ferrocene (2) was prepared by direct mercuration of ferrocenylsulfoxide (1). This reaction can be performed at room temperature in open air. Cross-coupling reactions of compound 2 and aryl halides especially aryl iodides resulted in 1,2-disubstituted ferrocene derivatives with moderate to good yields.