Methylation of tricarbonylcyclohexadienyliron salts with lithium dimethylcuprate

Abstract

The reaction between various tricarbonylcyclohexadienyliron salts and lithium dimethylcuprate leads to stereospecific, regioselective methylation. Deuterium-labelled compounds are used to establish that alkylation occurs at the face of the dienyl system opposite to that occupied by Fe(CO)₃.