Modeling macroscale metal vapor reactions. 2. Bis(arene)iron revisited

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00128a029

The reaction of iron vapor with naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene was studied by metal atom matrix optical spectroscopy in the temperature range 30-290 K. Two different products were obtained, which have been assigned to a highly unstable, 16-electron bis(η⁴-naphthalene)iron(0) and a room-temperature-stable, 20-electron bis(η⁶-naphthalene)iron(0) species. The former is observed in the range 30-77 K, while the latter forms at T ≥ 150 K. Assignments for these complexes were based on an extensive study involving iron atoms and selected arene ligands, also including cyclohexadiene as a model for η⁴-binding.