Insertion reactions of a two-coordinate iron diaryl with dioxygen and carbon monoxide

Abstract

The iron(II) diaryl FeAr'2 (1) (Ar' = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)2) reacts cleanly with O2 or CO to afford the monomeric, two-coordinate bis(aryloxide) Fe(OAr')2 (2) or the eta2-acyl-carbonyl complex (eta2-Ar'C=O)2Fe(CO)2 (3) via oxygen or CO insertion into the Fe-C bonds; complex 2 has a strictly linear geometry and shows remarkable resistance to O2 oxidation.