Synthesis and characterisation of the aminocarbene complexes [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3){&z.dbd6;C(NHR2)(CH2R1)}]+BF4– [R1 4;= 4;H, Me or Pr; R2 4;= 4;H, Me, Et, CHMe2, CH2Ph, CH(Me)Ph, CH2CH&z.dbd6;CH2 or CH2CH2OH]

A number of secondary aminocarbenes of the type (RS )-[(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3){&z.dbd6;C(CH2R1)(NHR2)}]+BF4– were synthesised in very good yield [66–99%, R1 4;= 4;H, Me or Pr; R2 4;= 4;H, Me, Et, CHMe2, CH2Ph, CH(Me)Ph, CH2CH&z.dbd6;CH2 or CH2CH2OH]. The absolute configuration of one of the carbenes was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. The chemistry of the carbene complexes was investigated.