STEPWISE FORMATION OF CHIRAL CLUSTERS VIA SIGMA(3), LAMBDA(4)-PHOSPHANEDIYL COMPOUNDS OF TYPE (R)(ETA(1)-C(5)ME(5))P=ML(N)

The chiral cluster O)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))-(mu(2)-CO)-Fe(CO)(3)Mn(CO)(4) 6 has been synthesized stepwise from (R)(eta(1)-C(5)Me(5))P=Mn(CO)(4) 1 (R = 2,4,6-Bu(3)(t)C(6)H(2)O) and Fe-2(CO)(9) 2; the rearrangement o f eta(2)-{(R)(eta(1)-C(5)Me(5))-P=Mn(CO)4}Fe(CO)(4) 3 to (R)[(eta(5)-C (5)Me(5))Fe(CO)(2)]P=Mn(CO)(4) 4 proves to be the decisive step in thi s synthesis; the X-ray structure analysis of 4 and 6 are reported.