Triiron dodecacarbonyl
Encyclopedia
Triiron dodecarbonyl is the chemical compound
with the formula
Fe3(CO)12. It was one of the first metal carbonyl
cluster
s synthesized. It is a more reactive source of iron(0) than is iron pentacarbonyl
.
:
Traces of the compound are easily detected because of its characteristic deep green colour. UV-photolysis of Fe(CO)5 produces Fe2(CO)9
, not Fe3(CO)12.
An efficient synthesis of Fe3(CO)12 proceeds via the reaction of Fe(CO)5 with base:
followed by oxidation of the resulting hydride
with acid:
The original synthesis, by Walter Hieber
, entailed the reaction of H2Fe(CO)4 with MnO2. The cluster was formulated merely as "Fe(CO)4".
. By contrast, Ru3(CO)12
and Os3(CO)12
adopt D3h-symmetric structures, wherein all 12 CO ligands are terminally bound to the metals. Overall, it can be appreciated that these three clusters formally arise from condensation of three 16-electron M(CO)4 fragments, akin to the condensation of CH2
units into cyclopropane
.
Elucidation of the structure of Fe3(CO)12 proved to be challenging because the CO ligands are disordered in the crystals. Early evidence for its distinctive C2v structure came from Mössbauer spectroscopic
measurements that revealed two quadrupole doublets with similar isomer shifts but different (1.13 and 0.13 mm s-1) quadrupolar coupling constants.
The anion [HFe3(CO)11]- is structurally related to Fe3(CO)12, with the hydride
replacing one bridging CO ligand. The bonding in the Fe-H-Fe subunit is described using concepts developed for diborane
.
.
Heating Fe3(CO)12 gives a low-yield of the carbido cluster Fe5(CO)15C. Such reactions proceed via disproportionation
of CO to give CO2
and carbon
.
Fe3(CO)12 reacts with 1,3-Propanedithiol
to form air-stable µ-(1,3-Propanedithiolato)-hexacarbonyldiiron in which both thiol
sulfur atoms form a bridge between two iron atoms. This compound is a model compound for certain all-iron hydrogenase
s.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
Fe3(CO)12. It was one of the first metal carbonyl
Metal carbonyl
Metal carbonyls are coordination complexes of transition metals with carbon monoxide ligands. These complexes may be homoleptic, that is containing only CO ligands, such as nickel carbonyl , but more commonly metal carbonyls contain a mix of ligands, such as Re3Cl...
cluster
Cluster chemistry
In chemistry, a cluster is an ensemble of bound atoms intermediate in size between a molecule and a bulk solid. Clusters exist of diverse stoichiometries and nuclearities. For example, carbon and boron atoms form fullerene and borane clusters, respectively. Transition metals and main group...
s synthesized. It is a more reactive source of iron(0) than is iron pentacarbonyl
Iron pentacarbonyl
Iron pentacarbonyl, also known as iron carbonyl, is the compound with formula 5. Under standard conditions Fe5 is a free-flowing, straw-colored liquid with a pungent odour. This compound is a common precursor to diverse iron compounds, including many that are useful in organic synthesis. Fe5 is...
.
General properties
Fe3(CO)12 is a dark green solid, which sublimes under vacuum, albeit with significant decomposition. It is soluble in nonpolar organic solvents to give intensely green solutions. Most low nuclearity clusters are pale yellow or orange. Hot solutions of Fe3(CO)12 decompose to an iron mirror, which can be pyrophoric in air. The solid decomposes slowly in air, and thus samples are typically stored cold under an inert atmosphere.Synthesis
It was occasionally obtained from the thermolysis of Fe(CO)5Iron pentacarbonyl
Iron pentacarbonyl, also known as iron carbonyl, is the compound with formula 5. Under standard conditions Fe5 is a free-flowing, straw-colored liquid with a pungent odour. This compound is a common precursor to diverse iron compounds, including many that are useful in organic synthesis. Fe5 is...
:
- 3 Fe(CO)5 → Fe3(CO)12 + 3 CO
Traces of the compound are easily detected because of its characteristic deep green colour. UV-photolysis of Fe(CO)5 produces Fe2(CO)9
Diiron nonacarbonyl
Diiron nonacarbonyl is an inorganic compound with the formula Fe29. This metal carbonyl is an important reagent in organometallic chemistry and of occasional use in organic synthesis. It is a more reactive source of Fe than Fe5 and less dangerous to handle because it is nonvolatile...
, not Fe3(CO)12.
An efficient synthesis of Fe3(CO)12 proceeds via the reaction of Fe(CO)5 with base:
- 3 Fe(CO)5 + (C2H5)3NTriethylamineTriethylamine is the chemical compound with the formula N3, commonly abbreviated Et3N. It is also abbreviated TEA, yet this abbreviation must be used carefully to avoid confusion with triethanolamine, for which TEA is also a common abbreviation....
+ H2O → [(C2H5)3NH][HFe3(CO)11] + 3 CO + CO2
followed by oxidation of the resulting hydride
Hydride
In chemistry, a hydride is the anion of hydrogen, H−, or, more commonly, a compound in which one or more hydrogen centres have nucleophilic, reducing, or basic properties. In compounds that are regarded as hydrides, hydrogen is bonded to a more electropositive element or group...
with acid:
- [(C2H5)3NH][HFe3(CO)11] + HCl + CO → Fe3(CO)12 + H2 + [(C2H5)3NH]Cl
The original synthesis, by Walter Hieber
Walter Hieber
Walter Hieber was an inorganic chemist, known as the father of metal carbonyl chemistry. He was born 18 December, 1895 and died 29 November, 1976. Hieber's father was Johannes Hieber, an influential evangelical minister and politician....
, entailed the reaction of H2Fe(CO)4 with MnO2. The cluster was formulated merely as "Fe(CO)4".
Structure
Fe3(CO)12 consists of a triangle of iron atoms surrounded by 12 CO ligands. Ten of the CO ligands are terminal and two span an Fe---Fe edge, resulting in C2v point group symmetryMolecular symmetry
Molecular symmetry in chemistry describes the symmetry present in molecules and the classification of molecules according to their symmetry. Molecular symmetry is a fundamental concept in chemistry, as it can predict or explain many of a molecule's chemical properties, such as its dipole moment...
. By contrast, Ru3(CO)12
Triruthenium dodecacarbonyl
Triruthenium dodecacarbonyl is the chemical compound with the formula Ru312. This orange-colored metal carbonyl cluster is a precursor to other organoruthenium compounds.-Structure and synthesis:...
and Os3(CO)12
Triosmium dodecacarbonyl
Triosmium dodecacarbonyl is a chemical compound with the formula Os312. This yellow-colored metal carbonyl cluster is an important precursor to organo-osmium compounds...
adopt D3h-symmetric structures, wherein all 12 CO ligands are terminally bound to the metals. Overall, it can be appreciated that these three clusters formally arise from condensation of three 16-electron M(CO)4 fragments, akin to the condensation of CH2
Methylene
Methylene is a chemical species in which a carbon atom is bonded to two hydrogen atoms. Three different possibilities present themselves:* the -CH2- substituent group: e.g., dichloromethane ....
units into cyclopropane
Cyclopropane
Cyclopropane is a cycloalkane molecule with the molecular formula C3H6, consisting of three carbon atoms linked to each other to form a ring, with each carbon atom bearing two hydrogen atoms...
.
Elucidation of the structure of Fe3(CO)12 proved to be challenging because the CO ligands are disordered in the crystals. Early evidence for its distinctive C2v structure came from Mössbauer spectroscopic
Mössbauer effect
The Mössbauer effect, or recoilless nuclear resonance fluorescence, is a physical phenomenon discovered by Rudolf Mössbauer in 1958. It involves the resonant and recoil-free emission and absorption of γ radiation by atomic nuclei bound in a solid...
measurements that revealed two quadrupole doublets with similar isomer shifts but different (1.13 and 0.13 mm s-1) quadrupolar coupling constants.
The anion [HFe3(CO)11]- is structurally related to Fe3(CO)12, with the hydride
Hydride
In chemistry, a hydride is the anion of hydrogen, H−, or, more commonly, a compound in which one or more hydrogen centres have nucleophilic, reducing, or basic properties. In compounds that are regarded as hydrides, hydrogen is bonded to a more electropositive element or group...
replacing one bridging CO ligand. The bonding in the Fe-H-Fe subunit is described using concepts developed for diborane
Diborane
Diborane is the chemical compound consisting of boron and hydrogen with the formula B2H6. It is a colorless gas at room temperature with a repulsively sweet odor. Diborane mixes well with air, easily forming explosive mixtures. Diborane will ignite spontaneously in moist air at room temperature...
.
Reactions
Like most metal carbonyls, Fe3(CO)12 undergoes substitution reactions, making, for example, Fe3(CO)11{P(C6H5)3} upon reaction with triphenylphosphineTriphenylphosphine
Triphenylphosphine is a common organophosphorus compound with the formula P3 - often abbreviated to PPh3 or Ph3P. It is widely used in the synthesis of organic and organometallic compounds. PPh3 exists as relatively air stable, colorless crystals at room temperature...
.
Heating Fe3(CO)12 gives a low-yield of the carbido cluster Fe5(CO)15C. Such reactions proceed via disproportionation
Disproportionation
Disproportionation, also known as dismutation is used to describe a specific type of redox reaction in which a species is simultaneously reduced and oxidized so as to form two different products....
of CO to give CO2
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
and carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
.
Fe3(CO)12 reacts with 1,3-Propanedithiol
1,3-Propanedithiol
1,3-Propanedithiol is the chemical compound with the formula HSCH2CH2CH2SH. This dithiol is a useful reagent in organic synthesis. This liquid, which is readily available commercially, has an intense stench.-Use in organic synthesis:...
to form air-stable µ-(1,3-Propanedithiolato)-hexacarbonyldiiron in which both thiol
Thiol
In organic chemistry, a thiol is an organosulfur compound that contains a carbon-bonded sulfhydryl group...
sulfur atoms form a bridge between two iron atoms. This compound is a model compound for certain all-iron hydrogenase
Hydrogenase
A hydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyses the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen . Hydrogenases play a vital role in anaerobic metabolism....
s.