Borane anions bromination

Reaction of phosphinite borane 42 (Table 4.2, entry 43) with 1-bromo-l -lithioferrocene afforded the monophosphine borane 43 (Table 4.4, entry 50), which still possesses a bromine atom susceptible to metallation on the non-phosphinated Cp ring. After lithiation, the ferrocenyl anion reacted with the second phosphinite borane 44 (Table 4.2, entry 44), affording the desired optically pure dissymmetric diphosphine borane 45 in 29% yield from 42. During the synthesis impurities such as undesired monosubstituted ferrocene derivatives could be separated by column chromatography. 

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