Carbon–oxygen and –hydrogen cleavage in the reaction of [Fe2(CO)3(η-C5H5)2L][L = P(OR)3 or PR3] with phosphite and phosphine ligands

Abstract

Reaction of [Fe₂(CO)₃(cp)₂L][cp =η-cyclopentadienyl; L = P(OMe)₃ or P(OEt)₃] with excess of P(OR)₃ yields [Fe(CO)(cp){P(OR)₃}{P(O)(OR)₂}](R = Me or Et), [Fe(CO)(cp)(COR){P(OR)₃}](R = Me or Et), and [Fe(CO)(cp)R{P(OR)₃}](R = Me) complexes which result initially from phosphite C–O bond cleavage. Reaction of [Fe₂(CO)₃(cp)₂(PPr₃)] with PPr₃ yields [Fe(cp)₂] and [Fe(CO)(cp)H(PPr₃)], the latter arising mainly from hydrogen abstraction from the free phosphine.