Bis(diazadiene)iron complexes, (R1MCR2–CR2NR1)2Fe1

Abstract

Under reducing conditions diazadienes, R¹NCR²CR²–NR¹(L), and iron salts give stable, tetracoordinate complexes L₂Fe⁰; activation with organoaluminium compounds yields active homogeneous catalysts for highly selective 1,3-diene dimerisation and L₂Fe adds 1 mol of CO reversibly, excess of CO giving LFe(CO)₃.