Some alkyl isocyanide complexes of iron

Abstract

Novel cyanopentakis(methyl isocyanide)iron (II) iodide was synthesized by the controlled alkylation of the known dicyanotetrakis(methyl isocyanide)iron (II) with methyl iodide. Reaction of potassium ferrocyanide with methyl bromide gave hexakis(methyl isocyanide)iron (II) bromide, which yielded the dicyanotetrakis(methyl isocyanide)iron (II) upon thermal decomposition. These complexes were transformed into the benzyl analogues by reaction with benzyl bromide. The products characterized were the known cyanopentakis(benzyl isocyanide)iron (II) bromide and dicyanotetrakis(benzyl isocyanide)iron (II).