Chemistry of the metal carbonyls. Part XXXIX. Organotin(carbonyl)-iron complexes

Abstract

A series of reactions between various organotin compounds and iron carbonyls has been investigated. By refluxing mixtures of organotin halides and pentacarbonyl iron, several complexes with tin–iron bonds have been obtained. Among the types of compound isolated are those of formula [R₂SnFe(CO)₄]₂, [R₂SnCl]₂Fe(CO)₄, R₄Sn₃[Fe(CO)₄]₄, and Sn[Fe(CO)₄]₄. The last compound, tetrakis(tetracarbonyliron)tin, can also be synthesised by reaction of hexabutylditin with pentacarbonyliron, but more successfully by treating stannic chloride with the anion Fe(CO)₄^–2. Compounds of formula type (R₃Sn)₂Fe(CO)₄ and [R₂SnFe(CO)₄]₂ can be prepared by refluxing pentacarbonyliron with trialkyltin hydrides and dialkyltin dihydrides, respectively. A number of properties of the new compounds are reported, including their infrared spectra in the carbonyl stretching region.