Copper-mediated intramolecular oxidative N-dealkylation of a bis(ferrocenyl)pyridyl ligand

Spontaneous reduction of copper(II) by a bis(ferrocenyl)pyridyl diamide ligand was observed which causes a novel intramolecular N-dealkylation as well as N-oxidation in air. Also observed was the unusual formation of vinyl ferrocene which was confirmed by HPLC and mass spectral techniques. Interestingly, the phenyl analogue of the pyridyl ligand does not show any such transformation. The absorption spectral and electrochemical properties were also reported.