Cyclometallation Reactions in the Fe(dprpe)2 System [dprpe = 1,2-Bis(dipropylphosphino)ethane].

Abstract

Thermal elimination of methane from cis-FeH(CH₃)(dprpe)₂ [dprpe = 1,2-bis(dipropylphosphino)ethane] or photochemical elimination of dihydrogen from FeH₂(dprpe)₂ leads to the formation of three cyclometallation products. The products are believed to arise via a pathway in which the coordinatively unsaturated intermediate Fe(dprpe)₂ undergoes intramolecular activation of a C–H bond of a dprpe methyl group. ¹H and ³¹P n.m.r. spectroscopy were used to characterize the products and explore the reactions leading to their formation.