Synclinal and anticlinal isomers of the iron methoxycarbene complex [{η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2(CHOMe)]+; access to functional compounds
Abstract
The methoxymethyl complex (η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2(CH2OMe)(2) undergoes hydride abstraction with Ph3C+PF6– at –80 °C and affords the secondary methoxycarbene complex [(η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2(CHOMe)]+PF6–(1) as a mixture of two geometric isomers of which the syn form isomerizes upon warming; complex (1) adds PPh3 yielding quantitatively [(η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2(CHOMePPh3)]+PF6–(3), and converts Me2PhSiH into Me2PhSiCH2OMe (4), giving in the presence of the appropriate alkenes, the alkenes, complexes [(η5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2(CH2CHR)]+PF6–(5).