Recombination of an Fe-Si-P linkage to an Fe-P-Si linkage through an isolable intermediate phosphasilaferracyclopropane.

Phosphasilaferracycle [Cp*(CO)Fe{kappa(2)Si,P-SiMe(2)PPh(2)}], prepared upon irradiation of [Cp*(CO)(2)FeSiMe(2)PPh(2)], was converted to [Cp*(CO)(2)FeP(Ph)SiMe(2)Ph] under mild conditions. The unusual recombination of the iron, silicon, and phosphorus cores could be achieved through a sequence of 1,2- and 1,3-group migrations in an FeSiP system.