A Cationic Three-Coordinate Iron(II) Complex and the Reaction of β-Diketiminate with Ethyl Diazoacetate

We report the synthesis of a cationic iron(II)
complex in which the iron atom is 3-coordinate in
solution and in the solid state. The complex undergoes
an unusual addition of ethyl diazoacetate, in which the
diketiminate forms a bond to the terminal nitrogen of
the diazo group. Coordination of the ester group to iron
is proposed to activate the diazo group so that it is
attacked by the nucleophilic diketiminate ligand.