The first side-on bound metal complex of diazene, HN=NH

The side-on bound metal complex of diazene cis[Fe(NH=NH)(dmpe)(2)] 2 was synthesised by reaction of [Fe(dmpe)(2)Cl-2] with hydrazine in the presence of potassium graphite and characterised by N-15 NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.