Bimetallic H2 Addition and Intramolecular Caryl-H Activation Mediated by an Iron-Zinc Hydride
Abstract
Heteronuclear Fe(mu-H)Zn hydride Cp*Fe(1,2-Cy2PC6H4)HZnEt (3) undergoes reversible intramolecular C-aryl-H reductive elimination through coupling of the cyclometalated phosphinoaryl ligand and the hydride, giving rise to a formal Fe(0)-Zn(II) species. Addition of CO intercepts this equilibrium, affording Cp*(Cy2PPh)(CO)Fe-ZnEt that features a dative Fe-Zn bond. Significantly, this system achieves bimetallic H2 addition, as demonstrated by the transformation of the monohydride Fe(mu-H)Zn to a deuterated dihydride Fe-(mu-D)(2)-Zn upon reaction with D-2.