The reactions of heterocyclic organotellurium and selenium compounds with triiron dodecacarbonyl

Abstract

The reaction of 2-telluraphthalide, C8H6OTe, with [Fe3(CO)12] gave as the major characterised species compound 1, [C6H4CH2TeFe(CO)3]2. An iron atom has inserted into the telluracyclic ring, and it is probable that one co-ordinated CO ligand arises from the initially organic carbonyl group. X-Ray single crystal investigations revealed a dimeric structure containing an Fe2Te2 core. The reaction of 2-telluraphthalic anhydride, C8H4O2Te, with [Fe3(CO)12] gave a known, but unexpected, organic product phthalide, C8H6O2. X-Ray crystallography confirmed its isolation; the main feature of interest is the significant double bond character of C(8)–O(1) at 1.352(4) Å. 2-Selenaphthalic anhydride, C8H4O2Se, gave intractable products on reaction with [Fe3(CO)12], but 2-selenaphthalide, C8H6OSe, on reaction with the carbonyl gave a major product 2, [Fe(CO)3{C6H4CH2SeFe(CO)3}] and a minor product 3, [Fe(CO)2{η6-C6H4CH2SeFe2(CO)6}] which is an intermediate in the formation of 2. Compound 2 was shown by X-ray methods to be very similar to 1 except that the 18 electron rule is satisfied by co-ordination of an Fe(CO)3 moiety, rather than by dimerisation. Compound 3, also studied by X-ray crystallography, differs from 2 mainly in the addition of an η6-bonded Fe(CO)2 moiety, but the selenaferrole ring is more distorted. It is proposed that comparative studies of reactions of selenium and tellurium compounds with [Fe3(CO)12] may assist the development of an understanding of the complex reaction pathways.