An isolable iron(ii) bis(supersilyl) complex as an effective catalyst for reduction reactions

Abstract

An isolable 14-electron iron bis(supersilyl) complex, Fe[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₂(THF)₂, was successfully synthesized from the reaction of FeBr₂ with K[Si(SiMe₃)₃] and its structure was unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The complex is coordinatively unsaturated and exhibits high catalytic activity toward the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds and the reductive silylation of dinitrogen.