SYNTHESIS OF TETRAMETHYLDISILANE-BRIDGED BIS(1-INDENYL) TETRACARBONYLDIIRON - A NOVEL THERMAL REARRANGEMENT REACTION BETWEEN THE SI-SI ANDFE-FE BONDS

The title complex SiSiMe2)[(eta(5)-1-indenyl)Fe(CO)(2)(mu-CO)(2)](2) ( 1) was prepared by the reaction of 1,2-bis(l-indenyl)tetramethyldisila ne and Fe(CO)(5) in refluxing heptane. Its thermal rearrangement produ ct [Me2Si(eta(5)-1-indenyl)Fe(CO)(2)](2) (2) was also obtained from th e reaction. 1 in refluxing xylene can be readily converted into 2. The crystal structures of the cis isomer Ic and the trans isomer 2t were determined by X-ray diffraction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.