Low-Valent Iron(I) Amido Olefin Complexes as Promotors for Dehydrogenation Reactions

Fe^I compounds including hydrogenases show remarkable properties and reactivities. Several iron(I) complexes have been established in stoichiometric reactions as model compounds for N₂ or CO₂ activation. The development of well‐defined iron(I) complexes for catalytic transformations remains a challenge. The few examples include cross‐coupling reactions, hydrogenations of terminal olefins, and azide functionalizations. Here the syntheses and properties of bimetallic complexes [MFe^I(trop2dae)(solv)] (M=Na, solv=3 thf; M=Li, solv=2 Et₂O; trop=5H ‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclo‐hepten‐5‐yl, dae=(N‐CH₂‐CH₂‐N) with a d⁷ Fe low‐spin valence‐electron configuration are reported. Both compounds promote the dehydrogenation of N ,N ‐dimethylaminoborane, and the former is a precatalyst for the dehydrogenative alcoholysis of silanes. No indications for heterogeneous catalyses were found. High activities and complete conversions were observed particularly with [NaFe^I(trop₂dae)(thf)₃].