Novel rearrangement reactions. 5. Thermal rearrangement of digermyl-bridged biscyclopentadienyl diiron complexes (Me2GeGeMe2)[(eta(5)-C5R4)Fe(CO)](2)(mu-CO)(2) (R = H and Me)

Complexes (Me2GeGeMe2)[(eta(5)-C5R4)Fe(CO)](2)(mu-CO)(2) (R = H, 1; Me, 3) 1 and 3, prepared by the reaction of C5R4HMe2GeGeMe2C5R4H with Fe(CO)(5) in refluxing xylene, underwent a novel thermal reaction between their Ge-Ge a nd Fe-Fe bonds, forming corresponding rearrangement products with new cycli c structures, [Me2Ge(eta(5)-C5R4)Fe(CO)(2)](2) (R = H, 2; Me 4). Compared w ith the case of silicon, the weaker Ge-Ge bond resulted in an easier rearra ngement reaction. Reactions of 1 with iodine and sodium amalgam were examin ed. Molecular structures of 1, 2,3, and 4 were determined by X-ray diffract ion.