Soluble ferrocene conjugates for incorporation into self-assembled monolayers

A series of phenylethynyl oligomers (I-V) possessing a ferrocene and thiol at each termini have been synthesized. These oligomers have been designed t o overcome the inherent insolubility of this class of complexes by substitu tion at the phenyl groups with methyl and propoxy substituents. Several new reactions for preparing arenethiol-protected compounds are described. Inte restingly, the generation of an arenethiol anion during base- or fluoride-c atalyzed deprotection has been characterized.