Cluster chemistry. Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [Fe3(CO)9(µ3-η2-CNBut)], a trinuclear cluster complex containing an isocyanide ligand acting as a six-electron donor

Abstract

Mild thermolysis of [Fe₃(CO)₁₁(CNBu^t)] gives [Fe₃(CO)₉(µ₃-η²-CNBu^t)](1) in which the isocyanide ligand is bonded to all metal atoms in a (1σ+ 2π) manner, lying across the Fe₃ triangle; reaction of H^– with (1) gives [Fe₃(CO)₉(HCNBu^t)]^–(2), which forms [HFe₃(CO)₉(HCNBu^t)](3) with H⁺.