Insertion reactions of a two-coordinate iron diaryl with dioxygen and carbon monoxide

The iron(II) diaryl FeAr'(2) (1) (Ar' = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-Pr-i(2))(2)) reacts cleanly with O-2 or CO to afford the monomeric, two-coordinate bis(aryloxide) Fe(OAr')(2) (2) or the eta(2)-acyl-carbonyl complex (eta(2)-Ar'C=O)(2)Fe(CO)(2) (3) via oxygen or CO insertion into the Fe-C bonds; complex 2 has a strictly linear geometry and shows remarkable resistance to O-2 oxidation.