Stepwise reduction of [Fe4(CO)13]2– by successive methylation and hydrogenation; the X-ray crystal structure of [Fe4(CO)12COMe]– and [Fe4H(CO)12COME]

Abstract

The reaction of [Fe₄(CO)₁₃]^2– with [Me₃O][BF₄] leads to the reduction of a CO ligand to give [Fe₄(CO)₁₂COMe]^–, where the COMe ligand µ₃-caps a face of the Fe₄ tetrahedron; subsequent protonation with HSO₃F yields [Fe₄H(CO)₁₂COMe], in which the COMe co-ordinates to the Fe₄‘butterfly’via C and O atoms; the structures have been confirmed by X-ray analyses.