Sulfur-hydrogen bond activation of thiols by the fragment CpFe(dppe)+: Cyclopentadienyl iron(III) thiolate complexes

Abstract

Oxidative addition of thiols RSH, R = CH3, CH2CH2CH3, CH2C6H5, C(CH3)3 and C6H4Br, by the complex [CpFe(dppe)1] afforded the oxidized thiolate complexes [CpFe(dppe)-SR]PF6. The reaction of [CpFe(dppe)1] with HSC6H4NH2 produces the diamagnetic [CpFe(dppe)HSC6H4NH2]PF6 instead of the expected thiolate product. The reaction of the dithiol HS(CH2)4SH with the same iron fragment, gives the binuclear complex [CpFe(dppe)-S(CH2)2S-CpFe(dppe)][PF6] 2. The formation of the thiol-containing complexes as intermediates in the activation of the S - H bonds is discussed. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.