Notes. Formation of a methoxycarbonyl group by attack of methanol on an iron(II) carbonyl complex, assisted by intramolecular proton transfer: X-ray structure determination of [Fe(CO)(PMe3)2(CNC6H11){CO(OCH3)}{C(CH3)NHC6H11}]BPh4

Abstract

The reaction of [Fe(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂{C(CH₂)N(C₆H₁₁)C(NHC₆H₁₁)}]I with CH₃OH gives [Fe(CO)-(PMe₃)₂(CNC₆H₁₁){CO(OCH₃)}{C(CH₃)NHC₆H₁₁}]I, which, with NaBPh₄, precipitates [Fe(CO)(PMe₃)₂(CNC₆H₁₁){CO(OCH₃)}{C(CH₃)NHC₆H₁₁}][BPh₄](2). The molecular structure of (2) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The complex shows octahedral symmetry with two PMe₃ ligands in the trans position, CO and CNC₆H₁₁ ligands in the cis position, and the two remaining σ-bonded ligands [–CO(OCH₃) and –C(CH₃)NHC₆H₁₁] also in the cis position. The structure was confirmed by i.r. and ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy.