Synthesis and reactivity of mono(amidinate) organoiron(II) complexes.

The mono(amidinate) iron(ii) ferrate complex [{PhC(NAr)(2)}FeCl(micro-Cl)Li(THF)(3)] (1, Ar = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) was prepared and was found to undergo ligand redistribution in non-coordinating solvents to give the homoleptic [{PhC(NAr)(2)}(2)Fe] (2) as the only isolable product. Reaction of with alkylating agents also induces this redistribution, but the presence of pyridine allows isolation of the four-coordinate 14 VE monoalkyl complex [{PhC(NAr)(2)}FeCH(2)SiMe(3)(py)] (4). Generation of the 12 VE alkyl via pyridine abstraction from 4 by B(C(6)F(5))(3) again induced ligand redistribution. Attempts to trap a 12 VE alkyl species with CO led to the isolation of a dimeric Fe(0)-Li-ferrate complex (3) with a carbamoyl ligand, derived from CO insertion into the iron-amidinate bond.