A MILD PHASE TRANSFER SYNTHESIS OF THE μ-MEHTYLENEBIS(TETRACARBONYLIRON) COMPLEX μ-CH2Fe2(CO)8 FROM IRON PENTACARBONYL AND DIBROMOMETHANE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(86)80379-5

The bridged methylene complex μ-CH2Fe2(CO)8 (2) can be readily generated by slowly introducing iron pentacarbonyl into a CH2Br2; H2O/NaOH (1 M); Bu4N(1+)2 SO4(2-) phase transfer system under a carbon monoxide atmosphere.The formation of 2 involves transient generation of the tetracarbonyl ferrate dianion Fe(CO)4(2-), followed by a fast reaction of this with dibromomethane.