α-Hydride abstraction via a three-step pathway: access to the electron rich iron methoxycarbene complex [Fe(η5-C5Me5)(P,P′-Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)(CHOMe)]+PF6–

Abstract

The rare iron methoxycarbene [Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(P,P′-Ph₂PCH₂CH₂)(CHOMe)]+ PF₆^–(4) is cleanly synthesized by a three-step α-hydride abstraction; the first paramagnetic iron(III) species, Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(P,P′-Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)(CH₂OMe)]+ PF₆^–(2), is characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and the second intermediate, Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(P,P′-Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂(CHOMe)(3), by e.s.r. spectroscopy.