Aminolysis of bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]iron and -cobalt as a versatile route to N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

摘要

A range of new N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of iron(II) and cobalt(II) have been conveniently obtained by the aminolysis of bis[bis(trimethylsilyl) amido]iron and -cobalt precursors with imidazol(in)ium salts. Whereas sterically less hindered salts produced the tetrahedral complexes [M(carbene) _2Cl_2] (M = Fe), bulkier salts gave the three-coordinate [M(carbene){N(SiMe_3)_2}Cl] (M = Fe, Co), which serve as versatile precursors to a range of derivatives; mechanistic aspects of the reaction are discussed.