Electrochemical reduction of some [(η5-Cyclopentadienyl) (η6-arene) iron(II)][PF6] complexes bearing an imine or a nitrone function in benzylic position of the arene ligand
摘要:
The electrochemical reduction in basic hydro-organic media of mixtures of [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-benzophenone-N-(aryl)nitrone) Fe](+) 1a-d and [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-benzophenone anil) Fe](+) complexes 1'a-d led to the corresponding [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-alpha-(arylamino)diphenylmethane) Fe](+) cations 2a-d with good yields (85-90%). In a similar manner, various [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-9-(arylamino)fluorene) Fe](+) cations 4a-i were synthesized (70-88% yield) in acidic hydro-organic media from the corresponding [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-fluorenone anil) Fe](+) 3a-i or the [(eta(5)-Cp) (eta(6)-fluorenone-N-(2'-methoxycarbonyl phenyl)nitrone) Fe](+) derivative 3'i. According to H-1 NMR chemical shifts, the exo isomer is formed in the majority (exo:endo ca. 75:25) during electrosynthesis of compounds 4a-i. We could explain these unexpected results by an epimerization in the electrolysis media. The amines 4a,b were re-oxidized by oxygen into the starting imine 3a,b under very mild Al2O3-catalysis conditions (77-80% yield). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.