Stabilization of highly reactive cyclic polyolefins by coordination to iron carbonyls: cis-cyclononatetraene-iron tricarbonyl

Reaction of cis-bicyclo6.1.0]nona-2,4,6-triene (C₉H₁₀) (I) with Fe₂(CO)₉, at room temperature, yields a number of complexes (IV)–(IX). One of the e, (IX), is the Fe₂(CO)₆ derivative of the starting polyolefin (I), whereas the others are Fe(CO)₃ or Fe(CO)₄ complexes of isomeric C₉H₁₀ polyolefins.(IV) is (h⁴-l,2,3,4-cis-8,9-dihydroindene)iron tricarbonyl, (V) is tentatively formulated as (h²-or h²-5,6-cis-bicyclo5.2.0]nona-2,5,8-triene)iron tetracarbonyl, (VI) has been characterized only as C₉H₁₀Fe(CO)₃, and (VII) and (VIII) are the asymmetric and symmetric isomers (h⁴-cis-cyclononatetraene)iron tricarbonyl. Characterization of the complexes has been obtained through PMR, IR, and mass spectra.Peculiar features of this reaction are the promotion of the polyolefin (I) rearrangement by iron carbonyls and the stabilization of highly reactive intermediates through coordination to the metal carbonyl groups. fa]Work presented in part at the 3rd International Symposium on Reactivity and Bonding in Transition Organometallic Compounds, Venice, September 9–10, 1970.