Addition reactions to cyclopolyolefin transition metal π complexes

The non-coordinated double bonds of (η⁴-1,2,3,4-cycloheptatriene)Fe(CO)₃ and (η⁴-1,2,5,6-cyclooctatetraene)Co(η⁵-C₅H₅) add methylene generated from the Simmons-Smith reaction to yield (η⁴-2,3,4,5-bicyclo5.1.0]octa-2,4-diene)Fe(CO)₃ and (η⁴-2,3,7,8-tricyclo7.1.0.0^4,6]deca-2,7-diene)Co(η⁵-C₅H₅). An analogous reaction of (η⁴-1,2,3,4-cyclooctatetraene)Fe(CO)₃ yields (η⁴-6,7,8,9-tricyclo8.1.0.0^3,5]undeca-6,8-diene)Fe(CO)₃, a product of the addition of three equivalents of methylene in which a cyclopropyl ring opening is proposed to occur. Dichlorocatbene, generated from C₆H₅HgCCl₂Br, would not react in a similar fashion. A BH₃ · THF solution would react with these starting materials but unusual products were produced.