Behavior ofZ- andE-s-cis-ferrocenyl-1,3-dienes in cycloaddition and dimerization reactions

Z-3-Ferrocenylmethylene-2-methylenecamphane andE-2-ferrocenylmethylene-3-methylenequinuclidine were synthesized by isomerization of the corresponding isomericE- andZ-1,3-dienes in an acidic medium. The dienes obtained form [4+2]-cycloadditionendo-adducts withN-phenylmaleimide, do not form cyclodimers upon thermal or acid-catalyzed [4+2]-cyclodimerization, and addZ-3-ferrocenylmethylene-1,2,7,7-tetramethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylium andE-2-ferrocenylmethylene-3-methyl-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]oct-3-ylium salts, respectively, at the terminal methylene group to give linear addition products. The latter undergo fragmentation on treatment with HBF4 to form the corresponding carbocation tetrafluroborates.