1,1‘-Oligosilylferrocene Compounds

1,1‘-Bis[tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl]ferrocene (1) was prepared by reaction of 2 equiv of lithiated tris(trimethylsilyl)silylcyclopentadiene with FeBr2. Treatment of 1 with 2 equiv of potassium tert-butoxide gave 1,1‘-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)potassiosilyl]ferrocene (2). Reactions of 2 with several dielectrophiles led to the formation of a number of novel 1,1‘-polysilyl ansa-ferrocenes with different heteroelements in the bridge.