Dimerisation of ethyl N-α-methylbenzyliminoacetate with nonacarbonyldi-iron. Crystal and molecular structures of a di-iron carbonyl intermediate and of the dimerized imine di-iron carbonyl complex

Abstract

Ethyl N-α-methylbenzyliminoacetate, L, dimerizes with [Fe₂(CO)₉], affording µ-[diethyl 2,3-bis(α-methylbenzylamino)succinate]-hexacarbonyldi-iron-(Fe–Fe), [Fe₂(CO)₆(L–L)]; the X-ray crystal structures of this complex and of an intermediate complex [Fe₂(CO)₆L] have been determined, the latter showing novel bridging of an –HCN– group.