Organoiron chemistry
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. Iron adopts oxidation states from Fe(-II) through to Fe(VI). Although iron is generally less active in many catalytic applications, it is less expensive and "greener" than other metals. Organoiron compounds feature a wide range of ligands that support the Fe-C bond; as with other organometals, these supporting ligands prominently include phosphines, carbon monoxide, and cyclopentadienyl, but hard ligands such as amines are employed as well.
The simple peralkyl and peraryl complexes of iron are far less developed than are the Cp and CO derivatives. Examples of compounds in this class are Fe(norbornyl)4 and tetramesityldiiron.
Important iron carbonyls are the three neutral binary carbonyls, iron pentacarbonyl, diiron nonacarbonyl, and triiron dodecacarbonyl. One or more carbonyl ligands in these compounds can be replaced by a variety of other ligands (dienes, phosphines).
Iron carbonyls have been used in stoichiometric carbonylation reactions, e.g. for the conversion of alkyl bromides to aldehydes. Disodium tetracarbonylferrate, "Collman's Reagent," can be alkylated followed by carbonylation to give the acyl derivatives that undergo protonolysis to afford aldehydes:
...
Wikipedia