Synthesis and Isolation of Diastereomers of Optically Active Cyclomercurated Ferrocenylimines

Asymmetric cyclomercuration of chiral ferrocenylimines (+)-(R)-2 and (-)-(S)-2 with mercuric acetate and subsequent treatment by lithium chloride gave a mixture of diastereomeric cyclomercurated ferrocenylimines. The four enantiomeric pure compounds with both planar and central chirality were isolated from the two mixtures by the thin layer chromatography.