Four-coordinate complexes of bis(1-diphenylphosphinoindenyl)iron(II)

Palladium, platinum and rhodium complexes of rac- and meso-bis(1-diphenylphosphinoindenyl)iron(II) (1) are reported. Both rac and meso isomers of {bis(1-diphenylphosphinoindenyl)iron(II)}palladium dichloride (rac- and meso-2) were characterized by X-ray crystallography along with the rac isomer of the Pt analogue (rac-3). NMR analysis of the rhodium complex [{bis(1-diphenylphosphinoindenyl)iron(II)}(cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I)] tetraphenylborate suggests a similar structure in solution. Coupling reactions of n- and sec-BuCl with bromobenzene in THF are catalysed by rac-2 and found to be similar to (PPh₃)₂PdCl₂ but poorer than (dppf)PdCl₂ in diethyl ether.