The preparations and decompositions of some chloroacetyl-transition metal derivatives

The reactions of ClCH₂COCl with NaM(CO)₃C₅H₅ (M = Cr, Mo, W), NaM′(CO)₅ M′ = Mn, Re), NaFe(CO)₂C₅H₅, (Ph₃P)₄Pt and Cl(CO)(Ph₃P)₂Ir were examined. The chloroacetylmetal derivatives, C₅H₅(CO)₃MCOCH₂Cl (M = Mo, W), C₅H₅(CO)₂FeCOCH₂Cl, and (CO)₅MnCOCH₂Cl, were isolated and their thermal and photochemical decompositions studied. The last complex decomposes to produce Mn(CO)₅Cl, CO, and CH₄, whereas the others yield the corresponding metal chlorides and ketene via β-chloride elimination. The Pt and Ir chloroacetyl complexes probably form and decompose under the reaction conditions to give the metal chloride complexes as the only isolable products.