Acetylferrocene is the organoiron compound with the formula (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄COCH₃). It consists of ferrocene substituted by an acetyl group on one of the cyclopentadienyl rings. It is an orange, air-stable solid that is soluble in organic solvents.

Preparation and reactions

Acetylferrocene is prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction#Friedel-Crafts acylation, Friedel-Crafts acylation of ferrocene, usually with acetic anhydride (Ac₂O): :Fe(C₅H₅)₂ + Ac₂O → (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄Ac) + HOAc The experiment is often conducted in the instructional laboratory to illustrate acylation as well as chromatographic separations. Acetylferrocene can be converted to many derivatives, e.g., reduction to the chiral alcohol (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄CH(OH)Me) and precursor to vinylferrocene. The oxidized derivative, acetylferrocenium, is used as a 1e-oxidant in the research laboratory.Connelly, N. G., Geiger, W. E., "Chemical Redox Agents for Organometallic Chemistry", Chem. Rev. 1996, 96, 877.

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*{{Commons category-inline Ferrocenes Cyclopentadienyl complexes