[Fe4(CO)10(PR)2(μ2-COEt)]: Funktionalisierung der CO-Gruppe eines anionischen Radikal-Clusters

Abstract The clusters Fe 4 (CO) 11 (PR) 2 ( 1 ) are reduced by PhLi to produce radical anions which react with Et 3 OBF 4 to give neutral radical clusters [Fe 4 (CO) 10 (PR) 2 (μ-COEt)] ( 2 ) in which a CO group of the starting compounds is alkylated to yield a μ 2 -COEt ligand. Structure analysis of 2a (R = t Bu) demonstrates that the framework geometry of 2 is almost identical to the one observed for 1 : the additional electron present in 2 as compared to 1 occupies an essentially non bonding cluster orbital. The results are further substantiated by electrochemical investigations and EPR spectroscopy.