Tricarbonyl[2-[(2,3,4,5-η)-4-Methoxy-2,4-Cyclohexadien-1-yl]-5,5-dimethyl-]iron could be produced through the following route.

A 500-ml., round-bottomed flask equipped with a condenser is charged with 5 g. (0.013 mole) of tricarbonyl[(1,2,3,4,5-η)-2,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl]iron(1+) hexafluorophosphate(1-), 150 ml. of water, and 50 ml. of ethanol and heated on the steam bath with occasional swirling until the salt is dissolved. (1,3-Cyclohexanedione, 5,5-dimethyl-) (2.5 g., 0.018 mole) is dissolved in 50 ml. of ethanol by warming. The two solutions are mixed and refluxed for 15 minutes. After cooling to about 25°, the mixture is poured into 500 ml. of water with stirring, and the precipitate is collected, washed with water, and air-dried, yielding 4.4 g. of crude product. The product is recrystallized by first dissolving in a minimum volume of boiling ethanol and adding water until the first sign of turbidity. On standing under refrigeration overnight, crystallization occurs. After collection by filtration, the product is washed with water and air-dried, yielding 3.7 g. of small, white to buff-colored crystals, which darken above 140° but do not melt. On addition of water to the filtrate a crop of 0.6 g. is obtained, giving a total yield of 4.3 g. (87%).