Photosubstitution of the halide ligands (X-) in (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)X

Irradiation of CpFe(CO)(PPh3)X, (CP = eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl, X = Cl, Br or 1), la-c, with white or red (lambda > 600 nm) light with maleimide or succinimide and di-iso-propyl amine (dipa) or ethyldi-iso-propyl amine (edipa) in dichloromethane leads to the efficient formation of CpFe(CO)(PPh3)(eta(1)-N-imidato) complexes 2a-b. Irradiation with white light of CpFe(CO)(PPh3)Br in dichloromethane in the presence of an excess of Br- (as tetrabutylammonium bromide) yields CpFe(CO)(PPh3)Br. These results are discussed in terms of possible photoinduced heterolysis of the iron-halide bond in la-c. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.