Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of (3,4-Diphenylcyclopentadienone)Iron Tricarbonyl Compounds in Transfer Hydrogenations and Dehydrogenations

Four (3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone)iron tricarbonyl compounds were synthesized, and their activities in transfer hydrogenations of carbonyl compounds and transfer dehydrogenations of alcohols were explored and compared to those of the well-established [2,5-(SiMe3)2-3,4-(CH2)4(η4-C4C═O)]Fe(CO)3 (3). A new compound, [2,5-bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone]iron tricarbonyl (7), was the most active catalyst in both transfer hydrogenations and dehydrogenations, and compound 3 was the least active catalyst in transfer hydrogenations. Evidence was found for product inhibition of both 3 and 7 in a transfer dehydrogenation reaction, with the activity of 3 being more heavily affected. A monomeric iron hydride derived from 7 was spectroscopically observed during a transfer hydrogenation, and no diiron bridging hydrides were found under reductive or oxidative conditions. Initial results in the transfer hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline showed that 3 was a significantly less active catalyst in ...