Synthesis, characterization of [{(N-methyl-N-benzyl)amino}methyl]ferrocenes and their cyclopalladated complexes: Crystal structure of σ-Pd[(η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H3CH2N(CH3)CH2C6H4NO2-4)]Cl(PPh3)

Treatment of 4a-c with sodium palladium tetrachloride in the presence of sodium acetate afforded cleanly cyclopalladated 5a-c in which configurations consisted of the RNRC, SNSC. The preferable activation of CFerrocenyl-H bond over CPhenyl-H bond was also observed. The molecular structure of 5c was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible mechanism for the formation of 5 was also discussed.