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Oxidative degradation of the organometallic iron(II) complex [Fe{bis[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1 H ‐imidazol‐1‐yl]methane}(MeCN)(PMe 3 )](PF 6 ) 2 : structure of the ligand decomposition product trapped via coordination to iron(II)
Author(s) -
Haslinger Stefan,
Pöthig Alexander,
Cokoja Mirza,
Kühn Fritz E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section c
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2053-2296
DOI - 10.1107/s2053229615021968
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , decomposition , imidazole , organometallic chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , medicinal chemistry , homogeneous , oxidation state , homogeneous catalysis , stereochemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , receptor , thermodynamics
Iron is of interest as a catalyst because of its established use in the Haber–Bosch process and because of its high abundance and low toxicity. Nitrogen‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are important ligands in homogeneous catalysis and iron–NHC complexes have attracted increasing attention in recent years but still face problems in terms of stability under oxidative conditions. The structure of the iron(II) complex [1,1′‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2,2‐bi(1 H ‐imidazole)‐κ N 3 ][3,3′‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl‐κ N )‐1,1′‐methanediylbi(1 H ‐imidazol‐2‐yl‐κ C 2 )](trimethylphosphane‐κ P )iron(II) bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Fe(C 17 H 14 N 6 )(C 16 H 12 N 6 )(C 3 H 9 P)](PF 6 ) 2 , features coordination by an organic decomposition product of a tetradentate NHC ligand in an axial position. The decomposition product, a C—C‐coupled biimidazole, is trapped by coordination to still‐intact iron(II) complexes. Insights into the structural features of the organic decomposition products might help to improve the stability of oxidation catalysts under harsh conditions.