Nitrene Insertion into C-C and C-H Bonds of Diamide Diimine Ligands Ligated to Chromium and Iron.

The impact of redox non-innocence (RNI) on chemical reactivity is a forefront theme in coordination chemistry. A diamide diimine ligand, [{-CH=N(1,2-C6H4)NH(2,6-iPr2C6H3)}2](n) (n = 0 to -4), (dadi)(n), chelates Cr and Fe to give [(dadi)M] ([1Cr(thf)] and [1Fe]). Calculations show [1Cr(thf)] (and [1Cr]) to have a d(4) Cr configuration antiferromagnetically coupled to (dadi)(2-)*, and [1Fe] to be S = 2. Treatment with RN3 provides products where RN is formally inserted into the C-C bond of the diimine or into a C-H bond of the diimine. Calculations on the process support a mechanism in which a transient imide (imidyl) aziridinates the diimine, which subsequently ring opens.