Nucleophilic substitution of ferrocenyl alcohols by cerium ammonium nitrate: C–N, C–S, and C–O bonds formation

Nucleophilic substitution of ferrocenyl alcohols with N-, S-, O-centered nucleophiles promoted by a catalytic amount of cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) was studied. By this protocol, a series of second arylamine, thioether, and ether were facilely synthesized in moderate to good yields under mild conditions.