One-pot three-component synthesis, structure and redox properties of ferrocenyl isoxazoles

A consecutive coupling-cycloaddition sequence of acid chlorides, terminal alkynes, and in situ generated nitrile oxides furnishes ferrocenyl substituted redox active isoxazoles in moderate to good yields. The structure was unambiguously assigned by X-ray structure analyses and the electronic structure was elucidated by computational methods. Redox potentials of all representatives are strongly effected by the electronic nature of the bridging isoxazoloyl moiety.