The reaction of the rifle cyclic complex (1) with sodium amalgam in THF resulted in the expected cleavage of the Fe-Fe bond to afford his-sodium salt ( Me2SiSiMe2 ) [η^5-C5H4Fe(CO)2]2 (4). The latter was not isolated and was used directly to react with MeI, PhCH2Cl, CH3C(O)Cl, PhC(O)Cl,Cy3SnCl (Cy= cyclohexyl) or Ph3SnCl to afford corresponding ring-opened derivatives (Me2SiSiMe2) [η^5-C5H4Fe(CO)2]2 [5, R=Me; 6, R=PhCH2; 7, R=CH3C(O); 8, R=PhC(O); 9, R = Cy3Sn or 10, R = Ph3Sn ]. The crystal and molecular structures of 10 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecule took the desired ant/ conformation around the Si-Si bond. The length of the Si--Si bond is 0.2343(3)nm, which is essentially identical to that in the cyclic structure of 1[0.2346(4) tun]. This result unambiguously demonstrates that the Si--Si bond in the cyclic structure of 1 is not subject to obvious strain.
The reaction of the title cyclic complex (1) with sodium amalgam in THFresulted in the expected cleavage of the Fe-Fe bond to afford bis-sodium salt(Me_2SiSiMe_2)[η~5-C_5H_4Fe(CO)_2Na]_2 (4). The latter was not isolated and was used directly toreact with MeI, PhCH_2Cl, CH_3C(O)Cl, PhC(O)Cl, Cy_3SnCl(Cy = cyclohexyl) or Ph_3SnCl to affordcorresponding ring-opened derivatives (Me_2SiSiMe_2)[η~5-C_5H_4Fe(CO)_2R]_2 [5, R = Me; 6, R =PhCH_2; 7, R = CH_3C(O); 8, R = PhC(O); 9, R = Cy_3Sn or 10, R = Ph_3Sn]. The crystal and molecularstructures of 10 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecule took the desired anticonformation around the Si-Si bond. The length of the Si-Si bond is 0.2343(3) nm, which isessentially identical to that in the cyclic structure of 1[0.2346(4) nm]. This result unambiguouslydemonstrates that the Si-Si bond in the cyclic structure of 1 is not subject to obvious ring strain.