Crystal Structure and Absolute Configuration of (+)-(1S, 2R)-5, 6-Dimethylidene-2exo-norbornyl-exo-irontricarbonyl p-Bromobenzoate

The title complex (+)- 13x has been prepared in an enantiomerically pure form. Its absolute configuration has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and has been correlated chemically to that of the 5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl derivatives (—)- 1 , (—)- 2 , (—)- 3 and to (—)-(1S, 2R)-benzonorborn-5-en-2-yl acetate (s. Scheme 1), whose configuration was deduced by indirect techniques. A critical analysis of the chiroptical properties of the exocyclic dienes 1–3 is now possible. These compounds are limiting systems for the application of the allylic axial chirality rule, the generalized octant rule and the symmetry rule for βγ-unsaturated ketones.