As one of the fundamental organometallic units, complexes bearing a terminal carbide ligand provide insight into the nature of metal-carbon multiple bonds. Iron carbides have been proposed as intermediates in the Fischer-Tropsch process as well in the biological fixation of N2 by the nitrogenase enzyme. However, there are no known examples of a terminal iron carbide complexes. Thus, strategies to access this motif will aid to illuminate the nature of this simple organometallic unit. We have chosen a substituted diazoalkane complex as entry point for the synthesis of a terminal carbide complex. Iron complexes bearing non-bridging η2-N,N-diazoalkane ligands are rare as most of this coordination mode are thermally unstable. We have prepared a series of iron tris(carbene)borate complexes derived from trimethylsiyldiazomethane, including an isolable η2-N,N-diazoalkane complex which has been characterized by single crystal X-Ray diffraction. Structural and spectroscopic characterization reveals that the diazoalkane fragment is slightly reduced. Efforts towards accessing the terminal carbyne, including photochemical N2 extrusion, will be presented.

Towards the preparation of a terminal iron carbide complex

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