Photoinduced configurational instability at iron in the aminocarbene complexes [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(L){C(NHR2)(CH2R1)}]+BF4–

Abstract

Photoinduced epimerisation of chiral iron aminocarbene complexes of the type [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(L){C(NHR²)(CH₂R¹)}]⁺BF₄^– [L = PPh₃, P(p-tolyl)₃; R¹ = H, Me; R² = CH₂Ph, CH(Me)Ph] has been observed in 10% H₂O–MeOH, MeOH, EtOH, THF and CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature. Exchange experiments have unambiguously established that reversible phosphine ligand (L) dissociation rather than reversible loss of the carbon monoxide ligand is the only mechanism operating.