Pentafluorophenyl carbonyl compounds in the Reformatsky-type reactions promoted with Fe(CO)5-based metal complex systems

Iron pentacarbonyl is an effective promoter for additions of halogenated acid esters and nitriles to pentafluorophenyl carbonyl compounds 1, 4, and 5 by the Reformatsky-type reaction and reductive coupling of compound 1. The electron-withdrawing character of the pentafluorophenyl group has a significant effect on the reaction pathway and the type of the reaction products. The reactions involving metal complex systems derived from Fe(CO)5 have a number of advantages such as a simple procedure for carrying out, the lack of necessity to use anhydrous solvents and an inert atmosphere. The schemes of the reactions have been proposed and the conditions for preparative syntheses of most products have been optimized.