UV photolysis of digermanyliron complexes and dynamic NMR spectroscopy of alkoxy-bridged bis(germylene)iron products

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00037a031

Digermanyliron complexes [Cp(CO)₂FeGeMe₂GeMe₂R], with different terminal substituents (R = Me, Et, or OMe) have been synthesized and subjected to UV irradiation. Deoligomerization is observed to occur, initially generating a highly unstable germyl(germylene)iron complex. Where R is alkyl, a germylene is ejected to yield a germyliron complex. Where R is methoxy, internal base stabilization of the germylene moiety by the donor oxygen atom affords a methoxy-bridged bis(germylene)iron complex which is fluxional with a value of ΔG?₂₉₈ for the process of germanium-oxygen bond cleavage and germylene rotation of 88.9 kJ mol^-1.