The Reaction of Disodium Tetracarbonylferrate(–II) with Aldehydes

Abstract

Abstract Disodium tetracarbonylferrate (–II) is an efficient catalyst for the dismutation of aromatic aldehydes to esters, 2RCHO→RCOOCH2R. Aliphatic ones give aldol-condensation products upon treatment with the ferrate. A successive reaction of the ferrate with an aldehyde, RCHO, and then with alkyl iodide, R’I, gives an ester, R’COOCH2R, after protonation. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.