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

Abstract

The InCl3-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.