Bifunctional Iron Complexes: Efficient Catalysts for CO and CN Reduction in Water

Abstract

Abstract The application of bifunctional iron complexes for the hydrogenation of polarized CX bonds is reported. Two modified Knölker complexes bearing ionic fragments were synthesized and fully characterized. With these well‐defined complexes, the reaction proceeded under mild conditions in pure water, and various alcohols and amines were isolated in good yields. Compared with hydrogenation in organic solvents, better reactivities were observed.