Electrochemically controlled proton-transfer-catalyzed reactions at liquid-liquid interfaces: nucleophilic substitution on ferrocene methanol.

The generation of α-ferrocenyl carbocations from ferrocenyl alcohols for S(N)1 substitution at the water-organic solvent interface is initiated by the transfer of protons into the organic phase. The proton flux, and hence the reaction rate, can be controlled by addition of a suitable "phase-transfer catalyst" anion or by external polarization with a potentiostat, providing a new method for the synthesis of ferrocene derivatives.