Stereochemistry of alkyl transfer and olefin elimination reactions of transition-metal phenethyl complexes

Abstract

Cleavage of the iron-carbon bond of threo-PhCHDCHDFe(CO)₂Cp (I) by bromine, iodine, and mercuric chloride proceeds with retention of configuration of the alkyl ligand, hydride abstraction from (I) by triphenylmethyl fluoroborate proceeds predominantly by a trans elimination reaction, and reaction of (I) with PdCl₂(NCPh)₂ gives a phenethylpalladium complex which eliminates deuteriated styrenes with complete loss of stereospecificity.