An investigation of (C 5 H 5 )Fe(C 5 H 4 –C(OBF 3 )–CH 3 )

Acetylferrocene readily forms an adduct with BF 3 . The product is a neutral model for protonated acetylferrocene, a species that is a crucial intermediate in the formation of 1,3,5-trisferrocenyl-benzene and other conjugated heterometallic derivatives by cyclocondensation. The title compound’s structure was determined in the solid state by X-ray diffraction and its spectroscopic properties were examined in detail, particularly the electronic excitation spectrum, which confirms the previous identification of the in situ generated protonated ketone.