Regioselective addition of protic acids to tricarbonyliron complexes of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Crystal structure of (C10H10O)Fe2(CO)6

The main product of the thermal reaction between the title oxatetraene (I) and Fe₂(CO)₉ in ether/pentane is the bimetallic complex (C₁₀H₁₀O)Fe₂(CO)₆-diexo (II), which has C_2υ symmetry both in the solid state (X-ray analysis) and in solution. Whereas the protonation of the free ligand leads usually to polymerisation, the addition of a protic acid such as CF₃CO₂H to II proceeds cleanly at 0°C giving first a (η 3-allyl)Fe(CO)₃O₂CCF₃ complex (III). The intermediate III adds a second equivalent of acid in a slower step (k₂/k₁ = 0.1, CF₃CO₂D/CHCl₃, 0°C) giving the trans-bis(η³-allyl) isomer IV with high regioselectivity. The addition of CF₃CO₂D yields the corresponding deuteriomethylallyliron tricarbonyl trifluoroacetates III′ and IV′. No further deuterium incorporation is observed at 0°C, thus confirming the kinetic control of the regioselective double addition of protic acid to II.