Synthesis of ferrocenoyl amino acid derivatives via homogeneous catalytic aminocarbonylation

Palladium-catalysed aminocarbonylation of iodoferrocene with amino acid esters as nucleophiles results in the selective formation of N-ferrocenoyl amino acid esters using Et3N as a base. In the presence of DBU as a base, new N-ferrocenylglyoxyl amino acid derivatives can be produced. Two new DBU-derived ferrocenoyl side products are also obtained and characterised.