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.