Reaction of N-(3-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene) aniline with diiron nonacarbonyl: cyclometalation induced methyl migration, imidoyl complex formation, and hydrogenation

The reaction of N-(3-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)aniline with Fe-2(CO)(9) u nder mild conditions in anhydrous benzene gives ironcarbonyl organometallic products 2b, 2c, 5, and an organic product 4c. Complexes 2b and 2c are cyc lometalated diironhexacarbonyl isomers, in which the methyl group has migra ted from beta- to beta'- and alpha'-carbon of the thienyl ring, respectivel y. Complex 5 is a triironnonacarbonyl cluster with an imidoyl ligand capped on the top of the three-iron plane and a hydrogen atom bridged to two iron s. The organic product 4c is a hydrogenated product of the original Schiff base. Single crystals of 2c and 5 were subjected to the X-ray diffraction a nalysis and their structures thus confirmed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.