Synthesis and characterization of iron derivatives having a pyridine-linked bis(anilide) pincer ligand.

A pyridine-linked bis(aniline) pincer ligand, [2]H(2) ([2]H(2) = (2,6-NC(5)H(3)(2-(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))-NHC(6)H(4))(2)), has been synthesized in two steps. Deprotonation with Me(3)SiCH(2)Li followed by metalation with FeCl(2) yielded a LiCl adduct of [2]Fe. The complex is freed of LiCl with excess TlPF(6) or by crystallization from toluene/petroleum ether, giving [2]Fe(THF). [2]Fe(THF) reacts with I(2) and O(2) to generate [2]FeI and ([2]Fe)(2)O, respectively. The complexes have been characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, and UV-vis spectroscopy. [2]Fe(THF) has been examined using cyclic voltammetry.