Silver(I) salts as one-electron or two-electron oxidants in their reactions with [Fe2(η-C5H5)2(CO)4–n(CNMe)n] derivatives (n= 0–2). The effect of varying the reaction solvent

Abstract

In tetrahydrofuran AgNO₃ acts as a two-electron oxidant and cleaves [Fe₂(η-C₅H₅)₂(CO)₃(CNMe)] to give a mixture of [Fe(η-C₅H₅)(CO)₂NO₃] and [Fe(η-C₅H₅)(CO)(CNMe)NO₃]via a detectable adduct, but in acetonitrile it acts as a one-electron oxidant to give [Fe(η-C₅H₅)(CO)(CNMe)(NCMe)]NO₃ and the [Fe(η-C₅H₅)(CO)₂]˙ radical which then dimerises or reacts with added radical traps.