An improved route to the synthesis of µ-(alkane- or arene-thiolato)(µ-ethenyl)di-iron complexes. Crystal structure of µ-phenylmethanethiolato-µ-(1,2-diphenylethenyl)-hexacarbonyldi-iron(Fe–Fe)

Abstract

The reactions of [Fe₂(CO)₆(µ-Cl)(µ-CPhCHPh)] with LiSR (R = Et, Prⁱ, cyclo-C₆H₁₁, Ph, or CH₂Ph) lead to the complexes [Fe₂(CO)₆(µ-SR)(µ-CPhCHPh)]. The structure of the benzyl derivative has been established by X-ray diffraction methods; crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with a= 21.383(3), b= 7.098(2), c= 16.856(3), Å, β= 95.49(2)°, and Z= 4. The structure was solved and refined on the basis of 2 197 significant counter data, to a final R value of 0.056. The structure consists of Fe₂(CO)₆ units with benzylthiolato and σ:η²-diphenylethenyl ligands bridging the two metal centres.