Dynamics and structure of some tricarbonylferrole-iron tricarbonyl derivatives

A series of compounds of the formula Fe₂(CO)_6-x(PR₃)_x(R′C₂R″)₂ (x = 0, R′ and R″ = Ph, R′ and R″ = H, R′ = Ph and R″ = H; x = 1, K = Ph or n-Bu, and R′ and R″ = Ph) were studied by ¹³C NMR to observe their solution properties. The tricarbonylferrole unit was found to be static from ?125 to +95° C, while the π-Fe(CO)₃ group appeared to be fluxional over the same temperature range. Definite assignments of the carbonyl carbon and ferrole ring carbon resonances have been made. A low temperature single crystal X-ray study of Fe₂(CO)₅PPh₃(PhC₂Ph)₂ demonstrated that the phosphine ligand was attached to the ferrole iron contrary to previous belief based on chemical evidence.