The stability of ferrocenylmethyl derivatives: Further attempts to synthesize ferrocenylacetone

Attempts have been made to synthesize ferrocenylacetone by various routes. The reaction of ferrocene and chloroacetone in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate was investigated as a potential route but this gave 2,2‐diferrocenylpropane and not ferrocenylacetone as reported in the literature. Several other attempts to synthesize ferrocenylacetone also failed and possible reasons for the instability of this and of other ferrocenylmethyl derivatives are discussed.