Photo-oxidation of unsaturated ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylic acids

In aqueous solution (pH 9) containing N₂O, the unsaturated acids $\text{trans}$-FcCHCH(CH₂)nCO₂H (n = 0 and 1) and FcCCCO₂H each undergo photo-oxidation, upon illumination with u.v. light of wavelength 240-250 nm, giving dipolar ferricenium species which may be chemically reduced back to the original acids. The mechanism of photo-oxidation, which is inhibited by ethanol, appears to be similar to that previously proposed for saturated ω-ferrocenylalkanoic acids.