SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOLYSIS OF THE 5 POSSIBLE ISOMERIC TRISILYL-(CYCLOPENTADIENYLDICARBONYLIRON)COMPLEXES - (ETA(5)-C5H5)FE(CO)(2)SI(3)ME(6)PH

Isomeric phenyl-hexamethyltrisilyliron complexes of the type (eta(5)-C 5H5)Fe(CO)(2)Si(3)Me(6)Ph, FpSi(3)Me(6)Ph (I-V) have been synthesized( ,) characterized, and photolysed in an inert solvent. Separate photoly ses of the linear Fp complexes, e.g. FpSiMe(2)SiMe(2)SiMe(2)Ph (III), result in the transient formation of intermediate isomeric 2-substitut ed trisilyl Fp complexes, FpSiMe(SiMe(3))(SiMe(2)Ph)(IV) and FpSiPh(Si Me(3))(2)(V) which photodeorigomerize to FpSiMe, and FpSiMe,Ph via the intermediacy of Fp disilyl complexes. The product distribution from t he photolyses of the Fp complexes is in accord with a mechanism involv ing equilibrating silyl(silylene) iron complexes. The two branched sil yl complexes, FpSiPh(SiMe(2))(2) and FpSiMe(SiMe(3))(SiMe(2)Ph), isome rize prior to formation of the disilanes whereas the linear trisilanes and disilanes do not interconvert.