The iron (II)bis(ferrocenoyl)acetonate was obtained by the photolysis of ferrocenoylacetone in coordinating solvent. The compositions and structures of the complex obtained were proved by elemental analysis, IR, electronic, and Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy.

The polythermal solubility of acetoacetylferrocene and 1,1′-bis(acetoacetyl)ferrocene (bis(acac)Fec) in water- tert -butanol solutions of different composition was studied. The solubility of the substances under study (to a greater extent, for acetoacetylferrocene) increases with rising temperature and alcohol content. Two dissolution mechanisms, the void and solvation mechanisms, were proposed. The thermodynamic parameters of dissolution and transfer of the solute substances from water to the mixed solvent of a certain composition were estimated.

The crystal and molecular structure of 2-ferrocenyl-2-propanol is studied by means of physicochemical methods. The compound crystallizes in the form of three crystallographically independent molecules with slightly different conformations. Crystals are monoclinic, C13H16FeO: a = 6.2687(7) Å, b = 36.614(4) Å, c = 15.291(2) Å; β = 97.86(2)°; V = 3477.2(7) Å3, Z = 12, d x = 1.396 g/cm3, P21/n space group. The molecule consists of the ferrocene fragment and the isopropyl carbinol substituent.

The keto-enol equilibrium of 2 × 10−3 M solutions of (acetoacetyl)ferrocene and 1,1′-bis(acetoacetyl)ferrocene was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy in a series of aprotic solvents such as DMSO-d 6, (CD3)2CO, CDCl3, CD2Cl2, CCl4, and C6D6 at a temperature of 20°C. It was established that the calculated enolization constants increase with a decrease in the polarity of solvent molecules. The results complement and combine known empirical rules about the effect of the medium on keto-enol equilibria.

Using physicochemical methods, the crystal and molecular structure of 1,1-bis-(acetoacetyl)ferrocene is studied. The compound crystallizes in the form of two crystallographically independent molecules with slightly different conformations and mutually perpendicular orientation. Crystals are monoclinic, C18H18FeO4, a = 35.68(1) Å, b = 5.733(2) Å, c = 30.30(1) Å; β = 96.831(5)°; V= 6154(3) Å3, Z= 16, dx = 1.529 g/cm3, C2/c space group. The molecule consists of the ferrocene fragment and two acetylacetonyl substituents.

The polythermal solubility of acetoacetylferrocene and 1,1′- bis -(acetoacetyl)ferrocene in water-propanol and water-isopropanol solvents of various compositions was studied. The solubility of both derivatives increased as the contents of the alcohols grew, to a slightly greater extent for acetoacetylferrocene than for 1,1′- bis -(acetoacetyl)ferrocene. The solubilities of the same compounds in water-propanol and water-isopropanol mixtures at equal alcohol contents were almost equal. An analysis of the logarithmic dependences of solubility on the molar concentration of the alcohols led us to suggest two solubility mechanisms, cavity and solvation. The thermodynamic characteristics of solution calculated from the temperature dependences of solubility substantiate this suggestion.

Tris(ferrocenoyl)acetonates of some lanthanides were obtained by homophase synthesis. The compositions and structures of the complexes obtained were proved by elemental analysis, electronic absorption and IR spectroscopy. Their solubilities in some aprotic solvents and thermal stabilities (by the thermographic method) were determined. The thermal properties of lanthanide tris(ferrocenoyl)acetonates were compared with those of analogous lanthanide tris(acetyl)acetonates.

The solubility of β-dicarbonyl derivatives of ferrocene (acetoacetylferrocene and 1,1′-bis(acetoacetyl)ferrocene) in water-methanol binary solvents at various temperatures is investigated over a wide range of compositions of the mixed solvent. It is established that the solubility of these substances increases (especially, acetoacetylferrocene) with the temperature and methanol fraction in the solvent. It is concluded that the dissolution of the ferrocene β-diketones is accompanied by positive changes in enthalpy and entropy.

The solubility of acetoacetylferrocene and 1,1′-bis(acetoacetyl)ferrocene in water and aqueous ethanol at various temperatures is studied over a wide solvent composition range. The solubilities of both compounds increase as the temperature or ethanol concentration is raised, particularly in the case of acetoacetylferrocene. The dissolution of both β-diketones is accompanied by positive changes in enthalpy and entropy.