The first example of α-ferrocenylalkylation of 2-thiohydantoin

The first example of the α-ferrocenylalkylation reaction of substituted 2-thiohydantoin was performed using a developed two-step procedure involving the formation of a salt of the starting thioamide with (ferrocenylmethyl)trimethylammonium, followed by alkylation of the anion by its counterion. The reaction results in the formation of isomeric N- and S-alkylation products; moreover, N-alkylation of the thiohydantoin anion in the presence of a more nucleophilic sulfur atom is observed for the first time. The resulting compounds are promising organometallic ligands for the synthesis of bimetallic complexes.