Synthesis of Ferrocene Lab Report

Reference: “Chemistry 57 Lab Manual” Dartmouth College. pp. 95-8.

Macroscale and Microscale Organic Experiments, 4th ed. By K.L. Williamson. pp. 606-8

The product of the reaction is an aromatic compound which exhibits the thermodynamic and kinetic stability expected for the delocalized pi electron systems. Like other aromatic compounds ferrocene will undergo substitution reactions in preference to addition reactions.

The aromicity of ferrocene is formed when the 6 outer shell electrons of the ferrous ion combine with the 12 pi electrons of the two cyclopentadiene anion. This combination satisfies Huckel's rule for N=4, thus 4N + 2 = 18.

The crude product will be purified by a new method in this lab, sublimation. Initial heating removes volatile impurities and water. A funnel is then placed over the sample. As the crude product sublimates it leaves behind nonvolatile impurities then solidifies on the cool surface of the funnel.

Some topics in this essay:
Percent Yield, Procedure Rapidly, KL Williamson, KOH Collect, Mechanisms Prelab, Dislodge KOH, Iron II, Observations* Crude, Ferrocene Objective, crude product, Sublimated Product, corrosive material, purge nitrogen, + 2, sublimated product, ironii chloride, 4n + 2, nonvolatile impurities, 4n +, dislodge koh cake, koh cake, shake vigorously, purge nitrogen minutes, ferrocene undergo substitution, ironii chloride solution,