Reactions of collman complex with tin(IV) and germanium(IV) porphyris,formation of [tin(II) and germanium(II) porphyrins] tetracarbonyliron and crystal structure of [2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphinato tin(II)] tetracarbonyliron

The action of Na₂Fe(CO)₄ with tin(IV) and germanium(IV) porphyrins affords metal(II) porphyrin complexes [(por)M(II)Fe(CO)₄] (por = porphyrinate, M - Sn(II) or Ge(II)). The molecular structure of [(oep)Sn(II)Fe(CO)₄] was solved by X-ray diffraction techniques. The molecular structure of [(oep)Sn(II)Fe(CO)₄] was solved by X-ray diffraction techniques : the Sn coordination is square pyramidal with the iron in axial position (Sn-Fe = 2.492(1)Å) whereas the Fe coordination is trigonal bipyramidal. Mössbauer parameters provide convincing evidence for the formal zero oxidation state of the iron atom.