last updated Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Meeting 15 (Acetyl Ferrocene)

ATTN: answers to the below questions are due at the start of your lab period; these answers should be part of your pre-lab write-up

Important Announcements:

1. Proposal: due on February 25, 2004 at 5 pm in YH1217 (If you have problems please see me asap!)

2. The next quiz will be administered on Tuesday March 1, 2005 at 12 pm.

Homework assignments

1. Why is a relatively weak base like KOH enough to deprotonate cyclopentadiene? Explain briefly.

2. Referring to the following reaction, answer the following questions

TiCl₄ + 2 KCp ----> Cp₂TiCl₂ + 2 KCl

a. Suggest two good solvents for this reaction. Rationalize your choice.

b. What is the driving force for the reaction?

c. What is the product used for?

3. Referring to the synthesis of acetyl ferrocene, answer the following questions.

a. How is the electrophile generated in this reaction? Show an appropriate chemical equation.

b. Why is the electrophile produced in this reaction considered a weak electrophile as comparing to the nitronium group being a very strong electrophile? What are the consequences in terms of its reactivity?

c. Why is sodium acetate used in this reaction?

d. Which organometallic compounds are present in the reaction mixture after the reaction? How are they seprated from each other?