A RAPID AND CONVENIENT METHOD FOR THE FORMATION OF (DIENE)FE(CO)(3) COMPLEXES

The formation of(diene)Fe(CO)(3) complexes has been achieved in the ab sence of solvent by the action of mild heat on a mixture of the diene and a preformed mixture of Fe-2(CO)(9) and silica gel. The yield of co mplex obtained compares well with literature examples especially for p olar substrates. The first complexation of Danishefsky's diene, 1-meth oxy-3-trimethylsilyloxybuta-1,3-diene, to Fe(CO)(3) has been achieved using this method. The speed of the reaction (typically complete after 2 h at 85 degrees C) and the ease of work-up make this solid-state pr ocedure the method of choice for the preparation of complexes of many polar dienes and heterodienes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All righ ts reserved.