Spectroscopic characterization of unstabilized electrophilic iron–methylene and iron–hydroxymethylene complexes [(η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2L]+(L = CH2 or CHOH). Hydride abstraction vs. electron transfer mechanism

Abstract

(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(CO)₂CH₂OH (1), a are hydroxymethyl complex, reacts with CF₃SO₃SiMe₃ in diluted solution affording the non-stabilized pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iron–methylene and iron–hydroxymethylene complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(CO)₂L]⁺[L = CH₂(2), L = CHOH (3); complex (1) reacts with the trityl cation via an electron transfer mechanism and subsequent H atom abstraction by the paramagnetic octahedral distorted 17 electron iron(III) intermediate [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(CO)₂CH₂OH]˙⁺(4).