IRON PENTACARBONYL MEDIATED COUPLING OF BENZYL HALIDES TO KETONES UNDER MILD PHASE TRANSFER CONDITIONS.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)81617-8

In a two-phase system (saturated aqueous calcium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium sulfate, dichloromethane, iron pentacarbonyl) benzyl bromides are readily carbonylated to dibenzyl ketones ; α-α' dibromoorthoxylene yields the o-quinodimethane iron tricarbonyl cmplex 8.It is inferred that the reactions proceed through transient generation of the tetracarbonyl ferrate dianion.