Synthesis and Catalytic Property of Iron Pincer Complexes Generated by C_sp³–H Activation

When the diphosphinito PCP ligand (Ph2P­(C6H4))2CH2 (1) was treated with Fe­(PMe3)4 and FeMe2(PMe3)4, the Csp3–H activation products [(Ph2P­(C6H4))2CH]­Fe­(H)­(PMe3)2 (2) and [(Ph2P­(C6H4))­(PhP­(C6H4)2)­CH]­Fe­(PMe3)2 (3) were obtained at room temperature. The generation of product 3 underwent one Csp3–H and one Csp2–H bond activation process. The new iron hydride complex 2 showed good activity in the catalytic hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones by using (EtO)3SiH as the hydrogen source under mild conditions. Complexes 2 and 3 were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis.