REACTIVITY OF A (FE-NO)-(FE-NO3) SYSTEM IN THE PRESENCE OF A FERROCENE FERRICINIUM GROUP TETHERED NEARBY VIA A FERROCENYL PHOSPHINE LINKAGE(FCP(2)) - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF [(FE(NO)(2)CL)(2)(MU-FCP(2))] AND [FE(NO)(2)(FCP(2))]

The nitroxyl dimer [{Fe(NO)(2)(Cl)}(2)] (1) reacts with 1,1'-bis(diphe nylphosphino)ferrocene (FcP(2)) to yield [Fe(NO)(2)(Cl)](2)(mu-FcP(2)) (2), the structure of which has been determined. The FcP(2) moiety br idges two Fe(NO)(2)(Cl) groups symmetrically. Oxygenation of 1 in the presence of FcP(2) yields [Fe(NO3)(2)Cl(O(2)P(2)Fc)] (5): complex 5 ca talyses the autoxidation of cyclohexene. It transfers the oxygen atoms of its nitrato groups to phosphines. When allowed to react with an ex cess of FcP(2), 2 gives [Fe(NO)(2)(FcP(2))] (4); the subsequent format ion of [Fe(NO)Cl-2(FcP(2)O)] (3) is attributed to the reaction of 4 wi th chlorine liberated in situ. The structure of 4 was also determined.