Synthesis and characterisation of the aminocarbene complexes [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3){C(NHR2)(CH2R1)}]+BF4– [R1 = H, Me or Pr; R2 = H, Me, Et, CHMe2, CH2Ph, CH(Me)Ph, CH2CHCH2 or CH2CH2OH]

Abstract

A number of secondary aminocarbenes of the type (RS)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃){C(CH₂R¹)(NHR²)}]⁺BF₄^– were synthesised in very good yield [66–99%, R¹ = H, Me or Pr; R² = H, Me, Et, CHMe₂, CH₂Ph, CH(Me)Ph, CH₂CHCH₂ or CH₂CH₂OH]. The absolute configuration of one of the carbenes was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. The chemistry of the carbene complexes was investigated.