4. Conclusion
Nowadays, the main goal of coordination chemistry is both to provide a better
knowledge and understanding of nature, i.e. the possible arrangements of atoms
around metal centres, and to make available efficient syntheses for the design of a
large variety of new complexes in view of their possible applications in organic
synthesis and homogeneous catalysis.
The results summarized in this review show that tetracarbonylferrates
M+[EFe(CO)4]− (E=H, RCO), easily obtained from the inexpensive Fe(CO)5 in
a one-step reaction, are versatile, efficient, in situ precursors for the design of a large
variety of new mononuclear iron carbonyl complexes. Study of the possible applications
of the latter in selective organic synthesis, stoichiometric or catalytic, is
underway, as well as extension of the strategies developed for iron to other transition
metals of the first row, in particular to chromium [70].