Syntheses and purification of the versatile synthons iodoferrocene and 1,1'-diiodoferrocene

This paper describes the improved synthesis and purification of iodoferrocene (FcI) and 1,1'-diiodoferrocene (FcI2). FcI and FcI2 were prepared by mono- and dilithiation of ferrocene followed by conversion into iodoferrocenes by reaction with iodine. Purification was accomplished by a simple sublimation/distillation procedure, affording FcI and FcI2 in high yields (74 and 72%) and high purity (>99.9%). We determined the molecular structures of FcI and FcI2 by X-ray single crystal diffraction.