Insertion of Phosphenium Ions into a Bicyclo[1.1.0]Tetraphosphabutane Iron Complex.

By reacting [{Cp‴Fe(CO)2}2(µ,η1:1-P4)] (1) with in situ generated phosphenium ions [Ph2P][A] ([A]- = [OTf]- = [O3SCF3]-, [PF6]-), a mixture of two main products of the composition [{Cp‴Fe(CO)2}2(µ,η1:1-P5(C6H5)2)][PF6] (2a and 3a) could be identified by extensive 31P NMR spectroscopic studies at 193 K. Compound 3a was also characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, showing the rarely observed bicyclo[2.1.0]pentaphosphapentane unit. At room temperature, the novel compound [{Cp‴Fe}(µ,η4:1-P5Ph2){Cp‴(CO)2Fe}][PF6] (4) is formed by decarbonylation. Reacting 1 with in situ generated diphenyl arsenium ions gives short-lived intermediates at 193 K which disproportionate at room temperature into tetraphenyldiarsine and [{Cp‴Fe(CO)2}4(µ4,η1:1:1:1-P8)][OTf]2 (5) containing a tetracyclo[3.3.0.02,7.03,6]octaphosphaoctane ligand.