A new mechanism of nucleophilic vinylic substitution and unexpected products in the reaction of chlorotrifluoroethylene with [Re(CO)5]Na and [CpFe(CO)2]K

The mechanism of chloride substitution in CF₂CFCl with Re(CO)₅]⁻ and CpFe(CO)₂]⁻ anions is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The substitution reaction begins with the nucleophile addition to CF₂CFCl producing the carbenoid anion MCF₂CFCl]⁻ (A) (M = Re(CO)₅, CpFe(CO)₂). This is shown by trapping the intermediate A with electrophiles - proton donor (t-BuOH) to give MCF₂CFClH or with CF₂CFRe(CO)₅ to give acylmetallate III, and by the formation of the substitution products CF₂CFM from the anion A, generated by the deprotonation of MCF₂CFClH with t-BuOK. 1,2-Shift of metal carbonyl group concerted with the α-elimination of chloride anion is proposed as the transformation pathway of carbenoid A into CF₂CFM. A competing process of carbene insertion into Fe-CO bond is proposed to explain the formation of (XI). The feasibility of these two pathways is confirmed by DFT (B3LYP/SDD and 6-31G^∗) calculations of the carbenes MCF₂CF:] and carbenoid anions MCF₂CFCl]⁻. Transition states (TS) for 1,2-shift (+3.2 kcal/mol) and for nucleophilic addition at CO ligand (+5.4 kcal/mol) are located for (CO)₅ReCF₂CFCl]⁻, but only one TS corresponding to carbene insertion into Fe-CO bond (+2.1 kcal/mol) is located for (CO)₂CpFeCF₂CFCl]⁻. The formation of other newly observed products, F(CO)CHFRe(CO)₅ (V) and Cp(CO)₂FeCCFeCp(CO)₂ (VIII) is also discussed.