Reactions of chelated η3-pentadienyl iron complexes with nucleophiles

Ferracyclic (1-3-η3)pentadienyl complexes with electronically decoupled allyl and vinyl moieties were reacted with various heteroatom and carbon nucleophiles. Primary amines selectively attacked neutral (4-6-η3-pentadienyl)ferralactones 2 on the end of the allyl ligand to give 3-(endo-vinyl)-(4-6-η3-allyl)ferralactams 4 and by a similar reaction of the latter eventually 6-(exo-vinyl)-(4-6-η3-allyl)ferralactams 5. -like attack on the conjugated coplanar vinyl residue of 2 was not observed. The cationic η3-allyl complex 3 was attacked by nucleophiles either on the allylic terminus furnishing free (1Z, 3E)-dienes 8, or on the vinyl residue which is part of an activated Michael system to give η4-1,3-diene complexes 9. η4-1,3,5-Triene complex 10 was obtained with basic nucleophiles.