Reaction of diazoalkanes with iron phosphine complexes affords novel phosphazine complexes

The crystal structures of novel products from the insertion of various diaz oalkanes into the iron-phosphorus bond in FeCl2L2 (L = phosphine) complexes are presented. Specifically, ethyl diazoacetate and diphenyldiazomethane r eacted with FeCl2(PMe2Ph)(2) to afford FeCl2[N(PMe2Ph)NC(H)CO2Et](2) (1) an d FeCl2[N(PMe2Ph)NCPh2] (2). Interestingly, ethyl diazoacetate inserted int o both iron phosphine bonds of FeCl2(d(i)ppe)(2) to afford the seven-member ed metallacycle FeCl2{N[NC(H)CO2Et]P(Pr-i)(2)H2CH2P(Pr-i)(2)N[NC(H)CO2Et]}( 2) (3).