Synthesis and molecular structure of a complex containing all three intermediates of the carbene synthesis from coordinated isocyanides

Abstract

Reaction of 3 equiv. of 2-trimethylsiloxyphenyl isocyanide 1 with (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂Cl yields the triisocyanide complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(1)₃]Cl 5; hydrolysis of the Si–O bonds in 5 leads to intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the hydroxy oxygen atoms at the isocyanide carbon atoms and formation of {(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe[[graphic omitted])][[graphic omitted])](CNC₆H₄-2-OH)}6, a complex which was shown by X-ray crystallography to contain a 2-hydroxyphenyl isocyanide, a benzoxazol-2-yl and a 1,2-dihydrobenzoxazol-2-ylidene ligand.