Reductive cleavage of P4 by iron(I) centres: synthesis and structural characterisation of Fe2(P2)2 complexes with two bridging P22−ligands

The selective transformation of white phosphorus with a beta-diketiminato iron(I) toluene complex under mild reaction conditions is reported which furnishes a new dinuclear iron(III) Fe-2(P-2)(2) complex with two bridging P-2(2-) ligands. Its reduction with potassium results in the formation of the first delocalised mixed-valent bis-diphosphido iron(II,III) complex which is isostructural with the neutral Fe2P4 precursor.