title: N=N bond cleavage by a low-coordinate ironII hydride complex.
abstract: Reaction of the three-coordinate complex LFeCl (L = bulky beta-diketiminate) with KBEt3H gives a dark red iron(II) hydride complex. The complex is a dimer in the solid state, but spectroscopy and kinetics suggest that an orange three-coordinate monomer is in equilibrium with the dimer in solution. The double bond of azobenzene is completely cleaved by heating with the hydride complex, and a hydrazido intermediate can be isolated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rene J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lachicotte
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Holland