Synthesis, characterization, and exchange of complexes of (R)-N,N-dimethylaminoethylferrocene with SO2 and BF3

Sulfur dioxide and (R)-N,N-dimethylaminoethylferrocene (I) react with an enthalpy of formation of 21.5 ± 1 kcal mol−1 to give a complex with sulfur bonded to nitrogen. The SO2 exchanges between adduct molecules by a dissociation mechanism. BF3 reacts with the above amine to give an adduct and its partly hydrolyzed product, [(η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4—CH(CH3)N(CH3)2•BF(OH)2] (II). II crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with a = 9.882(3), b = 10.625(5), and c = 13.988(13) A and z = 4. Rf = 0.102 and Rw = 0.104. Keywords: N,N-dimethylaminoethylferrocene complexes, X-ray structure, NMR exchange.