Activation of group 15 based cage compounds by [CpBIGFe(CO)2] radicals†
Abstract
The sterically encumbered dimer [CpBIGFe(CO)2]2 (1) (CpBIG = C5(4-nBuC6H4)5) is able to activate small tetrahedral molecules like P4 and As4 as well as the less reactive cage compounds P4S3 and P4Se3 at room temperature to give the products [{CpBIGFe(CO)2}2(μ,η1:1-cage)] (cage = P4 (2a), As4 (2b), P4S3 (2c), P4Se3 (2d)) in a quantitative manner. The reaction proceeds via selective cleavage of one E–E bond (E = P, As) of the starting material. Complex 1 also reacts with CS2 forming the binuclear compound [{CpBIGFe(CO)2}{CpBIGFeCO}(μ,η1:2-CS2)] (3).