Template syntheses of iron(II) complexes containing chiral P-N-N-P and P-N-N ligands

A multicomponent template reaction utilizing an air-stable phosphonium precursor leads initially to the first enantiopure bis-tridentate iron complexes mer-[Fe(P-N-N)(2)](2+) in high yield and then to new tetradentate iron complexes trans[Fe(MeCN)(2)(P-N-N-P)](2+).