Reactivity of (2-alkenyl-3-pentene-1,5-diyl)iron complexes: preparation of functionalized vinylcyclopropanes and cycloheptadienes

The reactivity of (2-alkenyl-3-pentene-1,5-diyl)iron complexes toward olefin metathesis, cycloaddition, and mild oxidations (MnO 2 or mCPBA) was examined. Cycloaddition reactions were observed to occur with modest diastereoselectivity (33-63% de). Decomplexation of the (3-pentenediyl) ligand may be accomplished by oxidation with either CAN or alkaline hydrogen peroxide to afford vinylcyclopropanecarboxylates or divinylcyclopropanecarboxylates. Reduction of the latter, followed by Cope rearrangement generates cycloheptadienylmethanols. These studies demonstrate that (2-alkenyl-3-pentene-1,5-diyl)iron complexes can serve as organometallic scaffolds for the preparation of a wide variety of structural motifs containing up to 5 contiguous stereocenters.