Base-Mediated Conversion of Hydrazine to Diazene and Dinitrogen at an Iron Center

Abstract

The treatment of the hydrazine complex cis-[Fe(N(2)H(4))(dmpe)(2)](2+) with base afforded the diazene complex cis-[Fe(N(2)H(2))(dmpe)(2)]. This reaction is reversed by the treatment of the diazene complex with a mild acid, while treatment of the hydrazine complex with a mixture of KOBu(t) and Bu(t)Li afforded the dinitrogen complex [Fe(N(2))(dmpe)(2)].