2-Pyridylmetallocenes: Part I. Electrophilic halogenation of 2-pyridylferrocene. Molecular structures of 2-pyridylferrocene and its α-brominated and -fluorinated derivatives. Synthesis of 2-pyridylruthenocene and 2-pyridylcymantrene

► New high-yield syntheses of the 2-pyridylmetallocenes [C5H4(2-C5H4N)]MLn (MLn = FeCp (1), RuCp (2), Mn(CO)3 (3)). ► Lithiation of 1 followed by electrophilic halogenations gives [C5H3X(2-C5H4N)]FeCp (X = F (4), Cl (5), Br (6), I (7)). ► The molecular structures of 1, 4 and 6 have been determined by X-ray diffraction.