Lithiated dimethylaminomethyl ferrocenes and ruthenocenes

Dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl lithium and -ruthenocenyl lithium were generated using tin/lithium exchange reactions. The four different metallocenyl lithium compounds were analysed using NMR spectroscopy. The metallocenyl lithium reagents are useful reagents and have been shown to react with MeOD, ClSiMe3 and DMF to give air-stable derivatives.