Addition of aryl substituants to cyclohexadienyliron electrophiles in the development of routes to C₁₂ central building blocks for alkaloid synthesis

Novel iron-aroyl complexes or synthetically prized arylcyclohexadienyl complexes can be formed from tricarbonyl(η⁵-1,4-dimethoxycyclohexadienyl)iron(1 +) hexafluorophosphate(1-) by correct control of reaction sequences that exploit the addition of aryllithium reagents to introduce the aromatic group. Bimetallic products are obtained when a tricarbonylchromium-bound aryllithium reagent or the corresponding cuprate are employed.