Synthesis of optically active silicon–iron compounds. Stereochemistry of silicon–iron bond breaking

Abstract

U.v. irradiation of the optically active compound (+)-[(π-Cp)Fe(CO)₂SiMePh(1-Np)](I) in the presence of PPh₃ gives the diastereoisomers (–)- and (+)-[(π-Cp)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)SiMePh(1-Np)](II); cleavage by chlorine of the Si–Fe bond occurs with predominant retention at silicon in the case of (I) and (II), and with predominant inversion for the diastereoisomers (II) in the presence of PPh₃.