Water-THF Solutions of Potassium l Tetracarbonylhydridoferrate

Solutions of tetracarbonylhydridoferrate( 1 —) salts can be prepared by numerous methods. The most straightforward and widely used involves the reaction of Fe(CO) and an excess of an alkaline base in protic media. The procedure described here uses two KOH equivalents only and allows the rapid and quantitative preparation of K[FeH(CO)4] solutions in HjO/THF solvent mixtures, which are stable provided that all traces of oxidizing agents are rigorously excluded. 

DICARBONYL-c -DIHYDRIDO-rraiis-BIS(TRIMETHYL PHOSPHITE)IRON(II) 

A 80-mL HjO THF (50 30 mL) solution of K[FeH(CO)J (11 mmol) is prepared under argon as described above in a 250-mL Schlenk flask stoppered with a serum cap. The stopcock of the Schlenk flask is closed and 

DICARBONYL-m-DIHYDRIDO-rrfl s-BIS(TRIETHYL PHOSPHITE)IRON II) 

The same procedure as above is followed, using triethyl phosphite (3.66 g, 22 mmol). The isolated FeH2(CO)2[P(OC2H5)j]2 is a colorless, sometimes light green, oil at room temperature. Yield 4.45 g, 91%. 

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