Oxymethylation of iron complexes [(cp)Fe(CO)2(R)] with HMMe3(M = Sn, Si; cp = C5H5) leading to R–CH2OH via a formylation–hydrometallation sequence
Abstract
Thermal reaction of (cp)Fe(CO)2(R), (cp)Fe(CO)2(COR), and (cp)Fe(CO)(PPh3)(COR)(cp = C5H5) with 3 equivalents of trimethyl-stannane or -silane, affords R–CH2OH (or R–CH2OSiMe3) and (cp)Fe(CO)H(MMe3)2 in good yields; the reaction sequence follows initial reduction of transient co-ordinatively unsaturated acyl species to give the aldehyde and successive hydrometallation by the action of Me3M–Fe intermediates.