Hydrosilylation of an Iron(IV) Nitride Complex

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