ABSTRACT The synthesis, structure and reactions of butterfly-shaped anions [(μ-RS)(μ-CO)Fe2(CO)6]- (A), [(μ-RSe)(μ-CO)Fe2(CO6)]- (B), and [(μ-RTe)(μ-CO)Fe2(CO)6]- (C) have been reviewed. The m+ salts of anions A and B are usually prepared by the action of alkanethiolates and arenethiolates RS-m+ (m+=Et3NH+, Li+, Na+, Mg+X) or corresponding RSe-m+ (m+=Et3NH+ , Li+, Mg+X) on Fe3(CO)12 in THF, whereas those of anions C are made by reaction of RTe-m+ (m+=Li+, Mg+ X) with Fe3(CO)12 in THF. These complex salts are highly reactive towards diverse electrophilic substrates. Such substrates, generally, include unsaturated alkyl halides, acid halides, alkynes, halides of phosphorous and arsenic, carbon disulfide, sulfur(I) chloride, sulfonyl chloride, elemental sulfur and selenium, benzimidoyl chloride and metal-metal triply-bonded dimers etc. Up to now, such m+ salts of anions A, B and C have become a very effective class of reagents and have been used extensively in the syntheses of novel butterfly-shaped Fe/E organometallic cluster complexes. |
