Structure and reactivity of the arenecarbonyl cation iodotricarbonylhexamethylbenzenetungsten(II)

Abstract

Substituted carbonyls of the type (arene)M(CO)₃ (M = Mo, W) react with iodine to yield compounds containing the cation [(arene)M(CO)₃I]⁺. X-ray structure analysis shows the [(hexamethylbenzene)W(CO)₃I]⁺ species to possess approximate C_s symmetry. It is unstable in solution and reaction with bipyridyl and triphenyl-phosphine offers a new route to derivatives of the type W(bipyridyl)₂(CO)₃I₂ and W(PPh₃)₂(CO)₃I₂.