Formation of a cationic binuclear iron–dinitrogen compound from molecular nitrogen

Abstract

Treatment of the compound π-C5H5Fe(dmpe)I (dmpe = Me2PCH2CH2PMe2) in acetone with TlBF4 and nitrogen gas yields the binuclear dinitrogen complex {[π–C5H5Fe(dmpe)]2N2}2+(BF4–)2, 2H2O which readily reacts with carbon monoxide and LiAlH4 giving the complexes [π–C5H5Fe(dmpe)CO]+BF4– and π–C5H5Fe(dmpe)H, respectively.