Evidence for organoironcarbonylate anion formation in nucleophilic addition to tetracarbonyliron complexes of acrylate esters

Sequential addition of stabilized anions and alkyl iodides to tetracarbonyliron complexes of methyl acrylate and methyl crotonate affords products consistent with regiospecific generation and alkylation of an organoironcarbonylate anion intermediate.