A new, three-component cobalt-catalysed domino reaction leading to ferrocenyl-tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyrimidinone derivatives

The use of N-(alkyl/arylmethyl)-ferrocenylimines as ketene scavengers in the cobalt-catalysed carbonylation of ethyl diazoacetate resulted in the formation of tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyrimidinones as the main products. The structures of the new compounds were determined by various NMR techniques including 2D measurements. In some cases, the stereochemistry was proved by X-ray crystallography.