The reaction of NaC2B4H7 with (Pi-C5H5)Fe(CO)2I gives Mu-Pi-C5H5) Fe(CO)2)C2B4H7 (I) in which the metal atom is bound to the cage via a B-Fe-B three-center bond. Ultraviolet irradiation of I yields (Pi-C5H5)Fe(II)(Pi- C2B4H7) (II), a diamagnetic sandwich complex containing a nonterminal hydrogen which may be at least partially bonded to the iron atom, and (Pi-C5H5)Fe(III) (pi-C2B4H6) (III), a paramagnetic sandwich species which is isoelectronic with ferricinium ion. The conversion of II to III also occurs during thick-layer chromatography on silica gel. The structural characterization of I, II, and III is based on 11B and 1H nmr, mass spectra, infrared spectra, and the epr spectrum of III.
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Sneddon et al. (1972) studied this question.