Reactions between µ-alkylidyne iron–molybdenum complexes and but-2-yne: unusually facile C–C bond forming processes accompanied by hydrogen migration between carbon centres

Abstract

The molybdenum–di-iron complex [MoFe₂(µ₃-CR)(µ-CO)(CO)₈(η-C₅H ₅)](R = C₆H₄Me-4)(1b) reacts with MeCCMe to give [FeMo{µ-C(R)[graphic omitted]H₂C(Me)C(Me)}(CO)₄(η-C₅H₅)](3), while the dimetal compound [FeMo(µ-CR)(CO)₆(η-C₅H₅)] affords with EtCCEt and MeCCMe the complexes [FeMo{µ-C(R)C(O)C(Et)C(Et)}(µ-CO)(CO)₄(η-C₅H₅)](5) and [FeMo{µ-C(R)[graphic omitted]H₂}(CO)₅(η-C₅H₅)](6) respectively; the structures of (3), (5), and (6) have been established by X-ray diffraction.