Synthesis, structure, and electrochemical properties of biferrocenes annulated with 1,2-dithiin and 1,2-dithiin 1,1-dioxides

2,2″-Bis(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-1,1″-biferrocene (6), a precursor of biferrocenes annulated with 1,2-dithiin and 1,2-dithiin 1,1-dioxides, was prepared by a sequence of selective ortho-lithiation and dimerization reaction from N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylferrocene. New biferrocenes annulated with 1,2-dithiin (1) and 1,2-dithiin 1,1-dioxides (2) and (3) were successfully synthesized in satisfactory yields by the reaction of compound 6 with lithium aluminum hydride followed by treatment with chlorotrimethylsilane. The electrochemical properties of the biferrocenes (1)-(3) were furnished by voltammetric studies.