Phase transfer generation of acyltetracarbonyliron anions: their role in the phase transfer carbonylation of reactive halides to give carboxylic acids and symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketones

Abstract

Acyltetracarbonyliron anions RCOFe(CO)₄^–(3) are readily synthesised under mild phase transfer (PT) conditions from pentacarbonyliron and reactive organic halides; the in situ generated anions (3)(R = ArCH₂) are the true catalysts in the PT carbonylation of benzyl halides to give ketones or carboxylic acids.