Chiral discrimination in the reaction of the enolate [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)(COCH2)]–Li+with monosubstituted epoxides: X-ray crystal structure of (RS,SR)-[(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3){COCH2CH2CH(OH)Me}]

Abstract

In the presence of Et₂AICI, the lithium enolate derived form the iron acetyl complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)(COMe)] discriminates between the enantiomers of monosubstituted epoxides to produce essentially only one product diastereoisomer, for example(RS,SR)-[(η⁵C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃){COCH₂CH₂CH(OH)Me}] in the case of propene oxide.