FACILE ROUTE TO FERROCIFEN, YLAMINOETHOXY)]-1-(PHENYL-2-FERROCENYL-BUT-1-ENE), FIRST ORGANOMETALLIC ANALOG OF TAMOXIFEN, BY THE MCMURRY REACTION

As part of the search for tamoxifen substitutes that could be useful i n the treatment of breast cancer, the use of organometallic complexes has been investigated. For this purpose a synthesis has been developed for ferrocifen, the prototype of this new series of complexes. Low va lent titanium-mediated (TiCl4/Zn) cross-coupling of 4-MeO-C6H4COPh wit h ferrocenyl ethyl ketone affords the corresponding but-1-ene in high yield (66%), from which ferrocifen, 3, is rapidly prepared in an overa ll yield of 41%. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.