The reaction of 1,1'-ferrocenediol, Fe(C5H4OH)2, with dihalides (E'Cl2
) in the presence of triethylamine has been used to synthesize the 1,3
-dioxa-[3]ferrocenophanes, Fe(C3H4O)2E' (E' = P(t)Bu, As(t)Bu, Sb(t)Bu
, BPh). Starting from triphosgene, (Cl3CO)2CO, as a precursor of phosg
ene (COCl2), the analogous 1,3-dichalcogena-[3]ferrocenophan-2-ones Fe
(C5H4O)2CO and Fe(C5H4S)2CO were obtained. All new compounds were char
acterized by their H-1 and 13 C NMR spectra as well as their mass spec
tra.