Oxymethylation of iron complexes [(cp)Fe(CO)2(R)] with HMMe3(M = Sn, Si; cp = C5H5) leading to R–CH2OH via a formylation–hydrometallation sequence

Abstract

Thermal reaction of (cp)Fe(CO)₂(R), (cp)Fe(CO)₂(COR), and (cp)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)(COR)(cp = C₅H₅) with 3 equivalents of trimethyl-stannane or -silane, affords R–CH₂OH (or R–CH₂OSiMe₃) and (cp)Fe(CO)H(MMe₃)₂ in good yields; the reaction sequence follows initial reduction of transient co-ordinatively unsaturated acyl species to give the aldehyde and successive hydrometallation by the action of Me₃M–Fe intermediates.