Synthesis and crystal structures of disubstituted ferrocenes carrying bromo and N-heteroaryl substituents

Noncovalent interactions in crystal packing play significant roles in the formation of extended network structures. Thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of noncovalent bonds, particularly halogen bonds, on the crystal packing of ferrocene derivatives. For this purpose, disubstituted ferrocene derivatives carrying both bromo and N-heteroaryl substituents, 1‑bromo-1ʹ-(Het)ferrocene [Het = 5-pyrimidyl (1), 2-pyridyl (2), and 4-pyridyl (3)] and 1‑bromo-2-(Het)ferrocene [Het = 5-pyrimidyl (4) and 4-pyridyl (6)], were synthesized. Here, we discuss a comparison of their molecular and crystal structures, with those of a related compound, 1‑bromo-2-(2-pyridyl)ferrocene (5). Although the crystal packings of 1–5 are classified into quasi-one-dimensional chain structures, their intermolecular interactions are different. Compounds 1–3 exhibit Br⋅⋅⋅cyclopentadienyl halogen bonds to form extended structures. In contrast, 4 shows the π–π stacking interactions between the pyrimidine rings of adjacent molecules, and 5 exhibits the Br⋅⋅⋅N halogen bonds between adjacent molecules. The crystal structures contained chiral molecules of opposing handedness.