Synthesis of [Fe(η4-C8H8)(CO)2L][L = MeNC, PriNC, ButNC, PhNC, 2,6-Me2C6H3NC, or P(OMe)3] and proof of the applicability of the Woodward–Hoffmann rules to the fluxionality of [Fe(η4-C8H8)(CO)2(CNPri)]

Abstract

The compounds [Fe(η⁴-C₈H₈)(CO)₂L][L = MeNC, PrⁱNC, Bu^tNC, PhNC, 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC, or P(OMe)₃] have been synthesised and their ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P n.m.r. spectra reported. A detailed study of the fluxionality of [Fe(η⁴-C₈H₈)(CO)₂(CNPr_i)] has been performed using the DANTE pulse sequence. The mechanism of fluxionality is shown to be consistent with the Woodward–Hoffmann rules and other mechanisms are rejected.