Abstract: Anew route for the synthesis of ferrocenyl a-diketones has been developed. The method consists of reacting formylferrocene with propanedithiol-1, 3 to form ferrocenyl dithiane, which is lithiated with BuLi to yield lithiodithiane of ferrocene, and this intermediate is then treated with esters. The addition products of ferrocenyl dithiane are finally hydrolyzed in the presence of HgCl₂-CdCO₃ to give the subject prodcuts. All the synthesized ferrocenyl dithiane and a-diketoncs, except I_a and I_c, are new compounds with their structures comfirmed by elemental analysis, 1R and ¹H NMR. The yields of the synthesis are moderately good. Only in two cases the yields are low, the reasons for which are proposed. It is also distinct from that reported in the previous literatures in two respects : there is no 2 : 1 addition product formed in the synthesis, and all the ferrocenyl acyl dithiancs arc very easily hydrolysable with HgCl₂-CdCO₃. These unexpected results are tentatively explained. Abrief discussion for the IR and ¹H NMRof the products is given.

Key words: Ferrocene, Dithiane, a-Diketone