Synthesis of two-coordinated iron(I) complexes and the examination of their magnetic properties and reactivity

• Applicant: Dr. Christian Gunnar Werncke
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259643522

Low-valent and low-coordinated iron compounds are proposed to be key intermediates in several conversions catalyzed by iron complexes as well as in iron containing metalloproteins. Further, low-coordinated iron compounds can exhibit single molecule-like behaviour. A subclass of these type of complexes are two-coordinated iron(I) complexes, which are unknown with the exception of a recent example and whose reactivity is virtually unexplored. Based on preliminary studies, this project aims at the synthesis of a diverse set of this kind of compounds by the reduction of (known) two-coordinated iron(II) precursors. The yielded complexes are to be fully characterized, including the determination of the magnetic properties. A key aspect of this project will be the elucidation of the reactivity of these new iron(I) complexes. For that, there behaviour towards various substrates like L-type ligands or small molecules, such as dihydrogen, dinitrogen or carbon dioxide will be tested. Further, the usability of yielded iron(I) compounds as convenient precursors for iron(I) complex synthesis will be examined. Given the postulated importance of iron(I) species in different catalytic conversions like cross-coupling reactions, the activation of boranes and silanes (under activation of B/Si-halide or B/Si-H-bonds) as well as alkyl and aryl halides under formal oxidative addition onto the iron(I) centre will be explored.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: France
• Host: Dr. Sylviane Sabo-Etienne