Preparation,Spectroscopic Properties,and Crystal Structures of Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CO)(μ‐CF2)2, Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CO)2(μ‐CF2), and Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CF2)(PPh3)2 – Theoretical Studies of Methylenic vs. Carbonyl Bridges in Diiron Complexes

The reaction of Na₂Fe(CO)₄] with Br₂CF₂ in n‐pentane generates a mixture of the compounds (CO)₃Fe(μ‐CO)_3–n(μ‐CF₂)_nFe(CO)₃ ( 2 , n = 2; 3 , n = 1) in low yields with 3 as the main product. 3 is obtained free from 2 by reacting Br₂CF₂ with Na₂Fe₂(CO)₈]. The non‐isolable monomeric complex (CO)₄Fe=CF₂ ( 1 ) can probably considered as the precursor for 2 . 3 reacts with PPh₃ with replacement of two CO ligands to form Fe₂(CO)₆(μ‐CF₂)(PPh₃)₂ ( 4 ). The complexes 2 – 4 were characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. While the structure of 2 is strictly similar to that of Fe₂(CO)₉, the structure of 3 can better be described as a resulting from superposition of the two enantiomers 3 a and 3 b with two semibridging CO groups. Quantum chemical DFT calculations for the series (CO)₃Fe(μCO)_3–n(μ‐CF₂)_nFe(CO)₃ (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) as well as for the corresponding (μ‐CH₂) derivatives indicate that the progressively larger σ donor and π acceptor properties for the bridging ligands, in the order CO < CF₂ < CH₂, favor a stronger Fe–Fe bond.