TMEDA in Iron-Catalyzed Hydromagnesiation: Formation of Iron(II)-Alkyl Species for Controlled Reduction to Alkene-Stabilized Iron(0).

ABSTRACT: N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) has been one of the most prevalent and successful additives used in iron catalysis, finding application in reactions as diverse as cross-coupling, C-H activation, and borylation. However, the role that TMEDA plays in these reactions remains largely undefined. Herein, studying the iron-catalyzed hydromagnesiation of styrene derivatives using TMEDA has provided molecular-level insight into the role of TMEDA in achieving effective catalysis. The key is the initial formation of TMEDA-iron(II)-alkyl species which undergo a controlled reduction to selectively form catalytically active styrene-stabilized iron(0)-alkyl complexes. While TMEDA is not bound to the catalytically active species, these active iron(0) complexes cannot be accessed in the absenc

SUBMITTER: Neate PGN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7895456 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature