Ferrocene‐Decorated Phenol Derivatives by Trapping ortho‐Quinone Methide Intermediates with Ferrocene

The InCl 3 ‐catalyzed reaction of ferrocene with ortho ‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols is reported and represents a convenient route for the synthesis of ferrocenyl phenols. This carbon–carbon bond forming process is believed to proceed through an ortho ‐quinone methide intermediate that can be intercepted by ferrocene through a Friedel–Crafts‐type process. Preliminary cytotoxic screening carried out on several cancer cell lines revealed that some of the compounds exhibit moderate cytotoxicity.