The
vinyliminium complexes [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-C(CO2Me)C(H)CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] [R = Me, 1a;
R = 4-C6H4OMe, 1b; R = CH2Ph, 1c] react with primary amines (NH2R′;
R′= Me, Et, Bu
n
, (CH2)2NH2, CH2Ph) and ammonia to give
the corresponding bridging amidine-alkylidene complexes [Fe2{μ-κ1(N):η1(C):η1(C)-C(CO2Me)CH2C{N(Me)(R)}(NR′)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (4a–j) in 70–90%
yields. Likewise, the vinyliminium complex [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-C(CO2Me)C(CO2Me)CN(Me)2}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (1d) reacts with NH2R′ (R′= Me, Et) to form
the corresponding amidine-alkylidene [Fe2{μ-κ1(N):η1(C):η1(C)-C(CO2Me)CH(CO2Me)C(NMe2)(NR′)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] [R′= Me, 8a; R′ = Et, 8b], generating selectively one of the two diastereoisomers associated
with the presence of the methylidene unit −CH(COO2Me)– within the bridging ligand. Amination of
the vinyliminium complexes 1a–c takes
place also with hydrazine, resulting in the formation of [Fe2{μ-κ1(N):η1(C):η1(C)-C(CO2Me)CH2C{N(Me)(R)}(NNH2)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] [R = Me, 5a; R = 4-C6H4OMe, 5b; R = CH2Ph, 5c]. Complexes 1b and 1d react with NHMe2, affording
the en-(1,1)diamino-alkylidene complexes [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-C(CO2Me)C(R′)C(NMe2)N(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] [R = 4-C6H4OMe, R′ =
H, 9b; R = Me, R′ = CO2Me, 9d]. The reaction of 1c with piperidine results in formation
of the amidine-alkylidene [Fe2{μ-κ1(N):η1(C):η1(C)-C(CO2Me)CH2C{N(Me)(CH2Ph)}(CH2CH2CH2CHCH2)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (10), which implies piperidine ring-opening.
All the products have been purified by alumina chromatography and
characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods; in addition,
the molecular structures of 4f, 5b, and 8a have been ascertained by X-ray diffraction studies.