Synthesis, structures and some chemical and electrochemical properties of E-1,2-diferrocenyl-3-methylthioprop-2-enone and its ketals

2,3-Diferrocenyl-1-methylthiocyclopropenylium iodide reacts with water, metal alkoxides, phenolates and with alcohols in the presence of Et3N to give E-1,2-diferrocenyl-3-methylthioprop-2-enone or its ketals. Their structures were established based on data from 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanistic aspects of these reactions are discussed. Electrochemical properties of 8 and 13b have been studied. The compounds present two oxidation processes (I–II), attributed to the oxidations of the ferrocenes groups, E0′(I), E0′(II), ΔE0′(II–I) and comproportionation constant Kcom are reported.