Are α-alkoxyalkyl complexes special? 13CH coupling constant evidence.

Comlexes of type L_nMCH₂O₂CCMe₃ exhibit relatively large values of ¹J_CH for the α-carbon; however, unexpectedly large values are also found for the methyl analogs, L_nMCH₃. Thus technique does not provide evidence for any unusual interactions in the former. Cleavage of the ester linkage by MeLi proceeded cleanly only for L_nM = CpMo(Co)₃, leading to CpMo(CO)₃^?; with L_nM = Mn(CO)₅ or CpFe(CO)₂ electron transfer processes predominate. Such reactions are also observed for simple metal alkyls such as CpFe(CO)₂CH₃.