Hydrosilylation of an Iron(IV) Nitride Complex

The nitride ligand in iron(IV) complex PhB(MesIm)3Fe≡N reacts with excess H3SiPh to afford PhB(MesIm)3Fe(μ-H)3(SiHPh) as the major product, which has been structurally and spectroscopically characterized. Bulkier silane HaSiPh2 provides iron(II) amido complex PhB(MesIm)3FeN(H)(SiHPh2) as the initial product of the reaction, with excess H2SiPh2 affording diamagnetic PhB(MesIm)3Fe(μ-H)3(SiPh2) as the major product. Unobserved iron(II) hydride PhB(MesIm)3Fe–H is implicated as an intermediate in this reaction, as suggested by the results of the reaction between iron(II) amido PhB(MesIm)3FeN(H)tBu and H3SiPh, which provides PhB(MesIm)3Fe(H)(μ-H)2(Si(NHtBu)Ph) as the sole product.