Cluster chemistry. Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [Fe3(CO)9(µ3-η2-CNBut)], a trinuclear cluster complex containing an isocyanide ligand acting as a six-electron donor

Abstract

Mild thermolysis of [Fe3(CO)11(CNBut)] gives [Fe3(CO)9(µ3-η2-CNBut)](1) in which the isocyanide ligand is bonded to all metal atoms in a (1σ+ 2π) manner, lying across the Fe3 triangle; reaction of H– with (1) gives [Fe3(CO)9(HCNBut)]–(2), which forms [HFe3(CO)9(HCNBut)](3) with H+.