A BF3 adduct of a tricarbonyl(cyclohexadienone)iron complex 5 is conve
rted into an ester-functionalised alkene-extended dienyl complex 13 by
reaction with a nucleophile obtained by hydroalumination of methyl pr
opiolate, ligand exchange with PPh(3), and removal of OH with acid. Th
e product was characterised by X-ray crystallography and undergoes ste
reocontrolled conjugate addition reactions with R(2)CuLi reagents. (C)
1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.