Synthesis of a diferrocenylvinylidene complex by migration of a ferrocenyl substituent.

An unusual 1,2-ferrocenyl migration has been observed following reactions of [Ru(dppe)Cp][BArF4] with diferrocenylacetylene, extending the scope of group rearrangments beyond methyl (Wagner-Meerwein) and phenyl entities. Ferrocene-containing bis(alkynes) RC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CArC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR (R = Fc, Ar = 1,4-phenylene; R = Ph, Ar = 1,1'-ferrocenylene) gave bimetallic bis(vinylidene) complexes following two consecutive rearrangements.