Hydroxyferrocene as a prochiral analog of phenols: cyclopalladation of a mixed phosphite ester of hydroxyferrocene

Hydroxyferrocene (ferrocenol), a metallocene analog of phenol, has been converted into a phosphite ester with chiral (racemic) butane-1,3-diol which undergoes cyclopalladation similarly to hydroxyarene phosphites. In this case, a planar chirality emerges but no diastereoselectivity has been observed. The molecular structure of the cyclopalladated product as pyridine adduct has been established by the X-ray study of a single crystal.