Two-step synthesis of ferrocenyl esters of vanillic acid

Successive reactions of vanillin with aromatic aldehydes at the phenol group and ferroceneboronic acid at the carbonyl group catalyzed with various N-heterocyclic carbenes afforded the corresponding ferrocenyl esters. In these reactions copper(II) sulfate, cinnamic aldehyde, and air oxygen act as oxidants. The resulting ferrocenyl esters of vanillic acid were tested for cytotoxicity.