REACTIONS OF {eta}{sup 5}-CYCLOPENTADIENYLCOBALT(III) ALKYLS WITH COBALT(I) PHOSPHINES AND IRON CARBONYLS. EVIDENCE FOR DIRECT {eta}{sup 5} -CYCLOPENTADIENYL AND TRIMETHYLPHOSPHINE GROUP TRANSFER BETWEEN METAL CENTERS

We have found that {eta}{sup 5}-methylcyclopentadienyl- (triphenylphosphine)dimethylcobalt(III) (1) undergoes intermolecular cyclopentadienyl ligand exchange with {eta}{sup 5}-cyclopentadienylbistriphenylphosphinecobalt(I). The unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl(triphenylphosphine)dimethylco-balt(III) undergoes exchange of phosphine for carbon monoxide with both Fe(CO){sub 4} and Fe(CO){sub 5} by two different mechanisms. The first involves electrophilic displacement of coordinated phosphine by unsaturated Fe(CO){sub 4} and the second takes place by electrophilic displacement of CO from Fe(CO){sub 5} by the unsaturated CpCoMe{sub 2} fragment (generated by phosphine dissociation from the saturated starting material)