The preparation and some reactions of the irontricarbonyl complex of thebaine

Abstract

The methoxycyclohexadiene ring of thebaine readily complexes with Fe(CO)₃ to give (I; R = Me). This group alters the reactivity of the thebaine molecule in a number of ways, protecting the diene system and permitting ready fission of the cyclic ether to give either reduced compounds, or carbonium salts such as (X), which undergo a novel rearrangement.