Arylation of Diethyl Malonate via Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions with Cyclopentadienyliron Complexes of Chloroarenes

Abstract Reaction of an η6-chloroarene-η5-cyclopentadienyl-iron hexafluorophosphate with diethyl malonate in the presence of K2CO3 in THF/DMSO gave a corresponding SN-Ar product, η6-diethyl arylmalonate-η5-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate, which, upon pyrolytic sublimation, resulted in the liberation of the arylated malonic ester. Such esters prepared in the present work included RPhCH(COOEt)2, with R = o-, m- or p-CH3, 2,6-(CH3)2, or o-, m- or p-Cl2.