IRON-MEDIATED CONVERSIONS OF EUCARVONE-DERIVED CATIONIC DIENYL COMPLEXES

Cationic cycloheptadienyl iron complexes with new substitution pattern s are generated by starting from the eucarvone complex 5 and the analo gous triphenyl phosphite complex 6. These complexes are converted with different nucleophiles. Regioselectivity of the nucleophilic attack d epends on the substitution pattern of the seven-membered ring. A new t ype of cationic system 7b, bearing an alkoxy substituent at C-1, was t reated with nucleophiles leading to the ipso adducts of type 10. Unexp ected attack at the central C-3 of the dienyl moiety is observed durin g the conversion of cationic complexes of type 9 with nucleophiles. Th e diene iron complexes, obtained in these reactions, can be converted to substituted cycloheptadienes by oxidative decomplexation, as shown by a selected example.