Synthesis and reactivity of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iron acetyl complex 5-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COMe>

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(93)83287-6

(RS)-<η⁵-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COMe> (1) was synthesised from <(η⁵-C5Me5)Fe(CO)2>2 (3) in three steps with an overall yield of 28percent.The lithium enolate from 1 was alkylated with methyl iodide and benzyl bromide to give 11 and 12 in 94 and 97percent yields respectively.The corresponding diethylaluminium enolate derived from 1 reacted with high stereoselectivity with benzaldehyde whereas no selectivity was observed with the lithium enolate.A single crystal X-ray structure analysis of (RS)-<(η⁵-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COCH2CH2Ph> (12) is reported.