Synthesis, characterization and reactions of the chiral transfer agent dicarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)-[(4R)-phenyl-(1'R)-(1'-phenylethyl)-1-azabuta-1,3-diene]iron(0)

The synthesis and room temperature single-crystal X-ray structural characterization of the title compound [(PhCH=CHCH=NCHMePh)Fe(CO)(2)(PPh(3))] are described, the first optically pure 1-azabuta-1,3-diene adduct of iron(0) to be so recorded. Crystals are orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a 20.197(6), b 14.09(1), c 11.094(5) Angstrom, Z 4; conventional R on \F\ was 0.061 for 2217 independent 'observed' (I > 3 sigma(I)) reflections. This compound has been employed to transfer the Fe(CO)(2)(PPh(3)) moiety to cyclic 1,3-dienes to give new complexes, including the first example of optically active dicarbonyl(triphenylphosphine) (eta(4)-1-methoxycyclohexa-1,3-diene)iron.