Synthesis and characterization of mononuclear iron silanethiolato complexes containing an unsupported Fe-S-Si bond system: X-ray crystal structure of CpFe(CO)2SSiPh3 and its reaction with SO2.

Abstract

Mononuclear iron silanethiolato complexes of the type CpFe(CO)(2)SSiR(3), where R = Ph (1a) and (i)()Pr (1b), were prepared via treatment of [CpFe(CO)(2)(THF)]BF(4) with LiSSiPh(3).Et(2)O and NaSSi(i)()Pr(3), respectively. The molecular structure of 1a was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1a was reacted with 1 equiv of SO(2) to give the corresponding O-silyl thiosulfite, CpFe(CO)(2)SS(O)OSiPh(3) (2), via 1,2-insertion of SO(2) into the S-Si bond. This reaction models the activation of SO(2) in the homogeneously catalyzed Claus process.