The Knölker complex is an
organoiron compound
Organoiron chemistry is the chemistry of iron compounds containing a carbon-to-iron chemical bond. Organoiron compounds are relevant in organic synthesis as reagents such as iron pentacarbonyl, diiron nonacarbonyl and disodium tetracarbonylferrate ...
, which is a catalyst for
transfer hydrogenation
In chemistry, transfer hydrogenation is a chemical reaction involving the addition of hydrogen to a compound from a source other than molecular . It is applied in laboratory and industrial organic synthesis to saturate organic compounds and reduc ...
. The complex features an hydroxy
cyclopentadienyl Cyclopentadienyl can refer to
* Cyclopentadienyl anion, or cyclopentadienide,
** Cyclopentadienyl ligand
* Cyclopentadienyl radical, •
* Cyclopentadienyl cation,
See also
*Pentadienyl
In organic chemistry, pentadienyl refers to the organic ...
ligand bound to an Fe(CO)
2H centre. It is generated by the corresponding cyclopentadienone tricarbonyl by treatment with base followed by acidification. The compound is related to the
organoruthenium compound Organoruthenium chemistry is the chemistry of organometallic compounds containing a carbon to ruthenium chemical bond. Several organoruthenium catalysts are of commercial interest and organoruthenium compounds have been considered for cancer therapy ...
called
Shvo's complex, a hydroxycyclopentadienyl derivative that also functions as a catalyst for
hydrogenation
Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel, palladium or platinum. The process is commonly employed to reduce or saturate organic c ...
.
References
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Organoiron compounds
Carbonyl complexes
Hydrogenation catalysts
Trimethylsilyl compounds
Metal hydrides
Cyclopentadienyl complexes
Half sandwich compounds
Iron(II) compounds