Preparation, Characterization, and Catalytic Reactions of NCN Pincer Iron Complexes Containing Stannyl, Silyl, Methyl, and Phenyl Ligands

Preparation and reactivity of chiral and achiral NCN pincer Fe complexes containing bis­(oxazolinyl)­phenyl (abbreviated as phebox) ligands with SnMe3, SiMe3, Me, and Ph ligands were investigated. Irradiation of (phebox)­SnMe3 (2) with 1 equiv of Fe­(CO)5 led to oxidative addition to give NCN pincer stannyl complex (phebox)­Fe­(CO)2(SnMe3) (3). Similarly, oxidative addition of (phebox)­SiMe3 (4) with Fe­(CO)5 resulted in the formation of silyl complex (phebox)­Fe­(CO)2SiMe3 (5). Me and Ph complexes (phebox)­Fe­(CO)2R (7, R = Me; 8, R = Ph) were synthesized by transmetalation of the bromide complex (phebox)­Fe­(CO)2Br (1) with ZnMe2 and ZnPh2, respectively. These phebox Fe complexes served as catalysts for hydrosilylation of a ketone and C–H silylation of N-methylindole.