Stereochemistry of substitution of the α-dimethylamino group by dialkylzinc in chiral benzylferrocene.

The stereochemistry of the substitution of the α-dimethylamino group by dimethylzinc in the presence of acetyl chloride in the chiral benzylferrocene backbone was examined. The reaction with the benzylferrocene bearing an o-bromo substituent at both ferrocene and the phenyl ring proceeded with inversion of configuration, while the reaction with the benzylferrocene bearing an o-bromo substituent at either ferrocene or the phenyl ring proceeded with retention of configuration.