Organometallic SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators): Cobaltifens, the (cyclobutadiene)cobalt analogues of hydroxytamoxifen

The McMurry coupling of (tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt(cyclopentadienyl) ketones, (C4Ph4)Co[C5H4C(O)R], where R=Me, 3a, or Et, 3b, with a range of substituted benzophenones furnished a series of cobaltifens, organometallic analogues of tamoxifen whereby a phenyl ring has been replaced by an organo-cobalt sandwich moiety. These systems of the general formula (η4-C4Ph4)Co[η5-C5H4C(R)C(Ar)Ar′], where R=Me or Et, and Ar=Ar′=p-C6H4X where X is …