The reaction of bisferrocenylimines with mercuric acetate and subsequent tr
eatment with LiCl lead to formation of mono (9) and double (10) cyclomercur
ated derivatives. The H-1 NMR and Hg-199 NMR spectra of the double cyclomer
curated bisferrocenylimines show that compounds 10 exist as two isomers (me
so and dl). The individual stereoisomers were isolated successfully by crys
tal picking. The structures of these new compounds have been confirmed by e
lemental analysis, IR and H-1 NMR spectroscopies, and further by X-ray crys
tal structure determination of meso [{HgCl(eta(5)-C5H3CPh=NAr)}(2)Fe] (Ar=m
-CH3C6H4). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.