Photoinduced configurational instability at iron in the aminocarbene complexes [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(L){C(NHR2)(CH2R1)}]+BF4–
Abstract
Photoinduced epimerisation of chiral iron aminocarbene complexes of the type [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(L){C(NHR2)(CH2R1)}]+BF4– [L = PPh3, P(p-tolyl)3; R1 = H, Me; R2 = CH2Ph, CH(Me)Ph] has been observed in 10% H2O–MeOH, MeOH, EtOH, THF and CH2Cl2 at room temperature. Exchange experiments have unambiguously established that reversible phosphine ligand (L) dissociation rather than reversible loss of the carbon monoxide ligand is the only mechanism operating.