Evaluation of Phosphoramide Derivatives of Carboxylic Acid Esters for the Alkylation of Tricarbonyliron Complexes With Weak Regiodirecting Groups

Abstract

Enolates derived from phosphoramide derivatives of carboxylic acid esters were found to act as regiocontrolled nucleophiles for the alkylation of tricarbonyl (η⁵-cyclohexadienyl)iron(1+) salts, even in cases where weak (Me) regiodirecting groups were present as unsymmetrically placed substituents. The nucleophiles, however, lacked the correct degree of basicity needed for high-yielding reactions.