Reactions of cyano-iron and -ruthenium compounds with gem-dicyano-epoxides. A new pathway to vinyl isocyanide complexes of iron and ruthenium

Abstract

The cyano complexes [M(CN)(cp)(dppe)](M = Fe or Ru, cp =η-C₅H₅, dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) and the hydrogen isocyanide complex [Fe(cp)(dppe)(CNH)]Br reacted with gem-dicyano and gem-cyano(ethoxycarbonyl) epoxides to give oxazol-2-yl and oxazolin-2-ylidene complexes, respectively. Treatment of the oxazol-2-yl complexes with alkyloxonium salts, R₃O⁺BF₄^–(R = Me or Et), resulted in ring opening to give multifunctional vinyl isocyanide complexes. The complexes were characterized by mass and NMR spectral techniques; in addition, a single-crystal structure determination was carried out on a vinyl isocyanide complex.