Facile α-β isomerisation of the σ-π phenylethenyl ligand at the diiron centre

Abstract

At 110 °C α-substituted [Fe₂(CO)₆(µ-PhC[double bond, length half m-dash]CH₂)(µ-PPh₂)] 1 is cleanly converted into the β-isomer [Fe₂(CO)₆(µ-HC[double bond, length half m-dash]CHPh)(µ-PPh₂)] 2, a process which is accelerated in the presence of arylphosphines; with P(OMe)₃ mono- and di-substituted adducts of 1 are isolated at 70 °C, which cleanly isomerise at higher temperatures.

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