Gas-phase reactivity of ionic iron complexes: comparison with solution chemistry

After a brief survey of experimental methods and a summary of bond energies of iron complexes, the gas-phase reactivity of ionic iron complexes is rev iewed according to ligands. Complexes bearing one strongly bound ligand suc h as FeCH3+, FeCH2+ and FeO+ are very reactive, in a quite different way fr om Fe+, and may participate in catalytic cycles in the gas phase. The prese nce of additional L ligands modulates their reactivity. The L ligands may a lso act as leaving groups, allowing oxidative addition, or be directly invo lved in bond-forming reactions. An increase of the number of ligands genera lly favors solution-like reactivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.