Studies on some alkyl and olefin complexes of iron and manganese

Abstract

A hydride ion may be abstracted from the alkyl complexes C 5H 5Fe(CO) 2R, where REt, n-Pr or iso-Pr, and (CO) 5MnEt, using triphenylmethyl salts. The ethylenic cations [C 5H 5Fe(CO) 2·CH 2CHR′] ÷, where R′H or Me, and [(CO) 5Mn· CH 2CH 2] ÷ are formed. Studies using the deuteroisopropyl complex C 5H 5Fe(CO) 2CDMe 2 show that the hydride ion is lost from a carbon atom beta to the metal. The reaction is shown to be reversible in that reduction of the ethylenic cations with sodium borohydride affords alkyl complexes. The mechanism of the reduction has been studied and is discussed. The isomerization of an Fe- n-propyl system to an Fe-isopropyl system is demonstrated.