SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF GERMYLIRON COMPLEXES [PH2HGEFE(ETA-5-C5H5)(CO)2] AND [RH2GEFE(ETA-5-C5H5)(CO)2] (R = PH OR 2,4,6-ME3C6H2)

The new complexes [Ph2HGeFe(eta(5)-C5H5)(CO)2] (1) and [RH2GeFe(eta(5)-C5H5)(CO)2] (R = Ph or Mes, 2a or 2b) were prepared by a substitution reaction, from the corresponding arylhalohydrogermanes and the iron salt. Their characterization by IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR and mass spectroscopy is reported. They are easily transformed into the mon- or di-halogermyl compounds by action of N-chlorosuccinimide. Treatment of 1 with lithium reagents (LDA or (t)BuLi) leads to an initial deprotonation of the cyclopentadienyl ring with migration of the germyl group. The intermediate iron salt was quenched by MeI producing MeFe(eta(5)-C5H4GeHPh2)(CO)2. Hydrogermylation reactions with phenylacetylene or methylethynylketone were performed in the presence of chloroplatinic acid and yielded mainly the alpha-isomer of the adduct.