Protonation of homotroponeiron tricarbonyl and cyclooctatrienoneiron tricarbonyl complexes

2,3-Homotroponeiron tricarbonyl, 8-methyl- and 8,8-dimethyl-2,3-homotroponeiron tricarbonyl complexes have been shown to undergo O-protonation in trifluoroacetic (TFA) and 96% sulfuric acids. In the latter acid the O-protonated cations rearrange to give the thermodynamically more stable C-protonated isomers. Cyclooctatrienoneiron tricarbonyl undergoes protonation H2SO4 to give the same cation as was obtained from the protonation of the …