Bisphenolate iron(II) complexes with intramolecularly coordinating nitrogen Lewis bases

The synthesis and characterisation of a novel Fe(II) bisphenolate complex [ Fe(OC6H4CH2NMe2-2)(2)](2) (1) from [Na(OC6H4CH2NMe2-2)] and anhydrous FeCl2 is reported. The solid state structure has been elucidated by single cryst al X-ray analysis and shows a dimeric structure with two bridging and two t erminal phenolate ligands. Compound 1 reacts with pyridine to form the addu ct [Fe(OC6H4CH2NMe2-2)(2)(py)(2)] (2). Similarly, 2 equiv. of [Na(OC6H2(CH2 NMe2)(2)-2,6-Me-4)] were reacted with FeCl2 and the thus in situ prepared ' [Fe(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)(2)-2,6-Me-4)(2)](n)' (3) was reacted with pyridine to fo rm the adduct [Fe(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)(2)-2,6-Me-4)(2)(pyr)(2)] (4). Compound 4 w as characterised by single crystal X-ray analysis. Attempts to use these co mpounds as catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane with t-butylhydroperox ide (cat.:C6H12:t-BuOOH = 1:1000:100) resulted in the direct formation of b rown coloured products, probably as a result of irreversible oxidation of 1 , 2, 3 and 4, respectively. No cyclohexanol or cyclohexanone was formed. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.