Reactions Of Metallocenes

Metallocenes have been found to play important roles as catalysts in some photochemical processes. In particular, ferrocene catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of various olefins such as piperylene and stilbene. Ferrocene also catalyzes the dimerization of piperylenes and the internal cydoaddition of 1,5-cyclooctadiene. On the other hand, ferrocene quenches the phosphorescence of anthracene at a diffusion-controlled rate. Quantitative studies of these reactions have been made and a mechanism for the photo-chemical behavior of metallocenes has been developed and is presented.