Donation and back-donation in cis- and trans-[(η5-C5H5)Fe(η1-CO)(μ-CO)]2 tautomers: Which relative is more generous? An ETS-NOCV bond analysis

Abstract

The ETS-NOCV bond analysis has been exploited to quantitatively estimate donation and back-donation properties of [(η5-C5H5)]−, CO, and FeI in the cis-/trans-[(η5-C5H5)Fe(η1-CO)(μ-CO)]2 (cis-I/trans-I) tautomers. Theoretical outcomes indicate that the Fe-CO bond, regardless to the CO monoapto (η1-) or bridging (μ-) coordination, has a sizeable π Fe → CO back-bonding contribution, which is stronger in trans-I than in cis-I. Moreover, [(η5-C5H5)]− has the weakest back-donation acceptor capability. The back-bonding behaviour of the Fe → η1-CO interaction well agrees with the experimental symmetric/antisymmetric infrared νCO (sνηjavax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@fc12185-CO/aνηjavax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@4c260f05-CO) trend for cis-I and trans-I and further confirms the infrared classical behaviour of the η1-CO group in this class of complexes.