COUPLING OF A 17-ELECTRON VINYL COMPLEX WITH CHIRAL RECOGNITION - SYNTHESIS OF THE PURE DIASTEREOISOMERS OF THE BRIDGING BIS(CARBENE) COMPLEX E5)(CO)(PME3)MU-2(MU-=C(OME)[CH2]2-C(OME)=)][PF6]2

The C-C bond-forming reaction by direct coupling of two chiral 17-elec tron metal vinyl units [Fe(C5Me5)(CO)(PMe3)(C(OMe)=CH2)].+ affords the mu-bis(carbene) dimetallic complex (C5Me5)(CO)(PMe3)}2{mu-C(OMe)[CH2] 2-C(OMe)}][PF6]2 5 with chiral recognition (major: minor = 2:1); the t wo diastereoisomers are isolated in a pure form.