Preparation of ferrocenyl mono- and dienone derivatives through aldol condensation of 1,1′-diacetylferrocene with aromatic aldehydes in dry conditions

1,1′-Diacetylferrocene was condensed with aromatic aldehydes without solvent in the presence of solid NaOH. Diacetylferrocene can give good yields of mono- or diene with either one or two molecules of a wide range of aldehydes depending only on the stoichiometry. Cyclization to ferrocenphane does not occur in this condition.