WITTIG AND REFORMATSKY CHEMISTRY OF THE FORMYL AND ACETYL DERIVATIVES OF (ETA(5)-C5H5)MN(CO)3, (ETA(5)-C5H5)RE(CO)3 AND (ETA(6)-C6H6)CR(CO)3

Formyl and acetyl derivatives of (eta6-C6H6)Cr(CO)3, (eta5-C5H5)Mn(CO)3 and (eta5-C5H5)Re(CO)3 react with the Wittig reagent CH2PPh3 to form vinyl and 2-propenyl derivatives, respectively. Reaction of the same formyl and acetyl derivatives with the Reformatsky complex formed from ethyl bromo-acetate and zinc yields the expected hydroxy esters in good yield. Dehydration of these alcohols gives the corresponding ethyl propenoate and ethyl butenoate products in excellent yield. All compounds have been fully characterized by IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis.