The reduction of [Fe(CO),-L,X,] (L=P(OMe),, X = Br (la), I (lb); L = P(OiP&, X = Br (2a), I (2b); L = PEt,, X = Br (3a), I (3b)) with Zn in dioxane (la,b-2a,b) or PhLi in ether (3a,b) led to formation of the corresponding dicarbonyl(halo)bis(phosphorus donor)iron(I) complexes (L = P(OMe),, X = Br (4a), I (4b); L = P(OiPr),. X = Br (Sa), I (5b); L = PEt,, X = Br (6a), I (6b)). Slightly contaminated 5a,b and pure 6a,b were isolated as stable crystalline blue or blue-green complexes. Complexes 4a,b were obtained, with only minor impurities, by cornproportionation of 1 a,b and the dicarbonyl(ha1o)bis-(trimethy1phosphite)ferrate anions 7a,b and characterized in THF solution. The comproportionation products 5 a,b-6 a,b were obtained in high yields by reaction of 2a,b-3a,b with the dinitrogen complexes 13-15. Further reduction of 4a,b-6a,b or exhaustive reduction of 1 a,b-3a,b with sodium amalgam or iBuLi in THF afforded the nonisolable dicarbonyl-(halo)bis(phosphorus donor)ferrate(o) anions (7a,b-9a,b). The latter were characterized by acidification with trifluoroacetic acid or acetic acid yielding stable
Results and DiscussionThe reduction of complexes 1 a,b-2a,b with excess Zn in dioxane and of complexes 3a,b with three equivalents of phenyllithium in ether proceeded with loss of one halogen substituent to afford the paramagnetic blue or green 17-electron iron@) compounds 4a,b-6a,b (Scheme 1). In the reduction of la,b with Zn, some [Fe(CO),{ P(OMe),} ,] and [ Fe(CO), { P(OMe),} 3]were isolated as by-products, in addition to 4 a,b.["] While 5 a,b could be isolated in analytically pure form, 6a,b were characterized as spectroscopically pure compounds.When sodium amalgam in THF was used as the reducing agent and the reaction temperature was kept below -30 "C, the Chem. Eur. J. 1995, I . No. 8 Q VCH Verlagsgesellschafi mhH, 0 6 9 4 5 1 Wernheim. 1995 094?-6539/95/0108-0541 S 3O.W+.25/0