Evidence for enhanced reactivity in the photofragmentation of the bridged dinuclear system Me2Si[η5-C5H4Fe(CO)2(η1-CH2C6H5)]2

Experimental evidence that the dinuclear complex Me₂Siη⁵-C₅H₄Fe(CO)₂-(η¹-CH₂C₆H₅)]₂ shows enhanced reactivity over its mononuclear analogy η⁵-C₅H₅Fe(CO)₂(η¹-CH₂C₆H₅ in photogragmentation to produce bibenzyl and FeFe bonded product is presented. Information from a series of competition and crossover experiments indicate that two factors are involved in the enhancement: (1) the ability to photochemically produce a 16-electron unsaturated benzyl unit in close proximity to a saturated partner, and (2) the inability of the FeFe bonded species 4 to quench free benzyl radicals in solution. Chemical reaction of Me₂Siη⁵-C₅H₄Fe(CO)₂(η¹-CH₂C₆H₅)]₂ with Me₃NO produces bibenzyl and establishes that loss of CO is the initial step in the fragmentation reaction. In addition, trapping experiments with 9,10-dihydroanthracene show that bibenzyl is formed from free benzyl radical; BBased on these results an overall mechanism is proposed.