Isomerization of 1-alkenes using the Na2Fe(CO)4/CuCl and Na2Fe(CO)4/BrCH2CH2Br reagent systems

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(94)05243-5

The reagent Na2Fe(CO)4 prepared in situ in THF by the reduction of Fe(CO)5 with sodium naphthalenide reacts with certain alkenes in the presence of CuCl to bring about isomerization of the alkenes.Thus the 1-alkenes (1-dodecene, 1-decene, safrole and allyl benzene) are isomerized to trans-2-alkenes, and β-pinene is isomerized to α-pinene.Reactions involving BrCH2CH2Br in place of CuCl give similar results.Keywords: Isomerization; Supernucleophile; Iron tetracarbonyl; Iron-copper bonds; Iron pentacarbonyl; Copper(I) chloride