Photochemical reactions of [cis-Fe(H)2(Me2PCH2CH2PMe2)2] with thiophenes: insertion into C–H and C–S bonds

Abstract

Photolysis of [cis-Fe(H)₂(dmpe)₂][dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane] in the presence of simple thiophenes gives products formed by insertion of the iron centre into both C–H and C–S bonds; the crystal structure of [[graphic omitted]H)(dmpe)₂] is a planar ‘ferrathiacycle’ but bond lengths and ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicate that this ring is best described as a localised diene structure rather than a ‘ferrathiabenzene’ with delocalised π-system.