Reactions of C5H5M+ (M = Fe, Ni) with substituted thiophenes

The ion molecule reactions between C5H5M+ (M = Fe, Ni) with some substituted thiophenes have been studied in an ion trap mass spectrometer. The reactions of halogen substituted thiophenes lead to the formation of a new C–C bond between the cyclopentadiene ring and the thiophene with the loss of a neutral HX. The reaction mechanism has been investigated by means of DFT calculations and it was found that the insertion of the metal atom in the C–X bond is the key step in the process.