The synthesis, spectroscopic, electrochemical and X-ray diffraction characterization of novel bridged ferrocene precursors for use in self-assembled monolayers

The reaction between adipoyl chloride with 2 equiv. of ferrocene in the presence of aluminum chloride yielded 1,6-diferrocenylhexane-1,6-dione (I) and an unusual aldol condensation product 1-ferrocenylcarbonyl-2-ferrocenylcyclopentene. The reduction of compound (I) under Clemmensen reaction conditions yielded the fully reduced product 1,6-diferrocenylhexane.