41900-55-4Relevant academic research and scientific papers
A Facile, high-yield synthesis of trans-Fe(CO)3(PR3)2 from Fe(CO)5, Fe(CO)4CHO-, HFe(CO)4-, or HFe(CO)3PR3-
Keiter, Richard L.,Keiter, Ellen A.,Hecker, Karl H.,Boecker, Carol A.
, p. 2466 - 2469 (1988)
The reaction of Fe(CO)5 with PR3 and NaBH4 in refluxing n-butyl alcohol affords high yields of trans-Fe(CO)3(PR3)2. It has been shown that Fe(CO)4PR3, which does not appear in the collected product, is also not a significant intermediate in the reaction. The reaction proceeds by initial formation of H2 gas and Fe(CO)4CHO-. The formyl complex decomposes to HFe(CO)4- which reacts with PR3 to give the disubstituted product. The principal intermediate for this substitution is believed to be HFe(CO)3PR3-, although polynuclear species may also be important. The substitution of HFe(CO)4- by PR3 is favorable when the counterion is Na+ but not when it is PPN+. The overall reaction is very sensitive to choice of solvent; substitution of ethanol for n-butyl alcohol leads to greatly reduced yields.
