Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of the ferrocene-based N-heterocyclic stannylene [Fe{(?(5)-C5H4)NC6H3-2,6-iPr(2)}(2)Sn]

The N-heterocyclic stannylene [Fe{(?(5)-C5H4)NC6H3-2,6-iPr(2)}(2)Sn] (1) has been synthesised from SnCl2 and the lithium amide [Fe{(?(5)-C5H4)NC6H3-2,6-iPr(2)}(2)Li-2]. Compound 1 is inert towards H-2, CO, CO2, and MeI under ambient conditions. Immediate hydrolysis and ammonolysis was observed with H2O and NH3, respectively. While oxidation reactions of 1 with chalcogens (O-2, S-8, Se-8) afforded only intractable material, the reaction with Ph2Se2 cleanly furnished [Fe{(?(5)-C5H4)NC6H3-2,6-iPr(2)}(2)Sn(SePh)(2)] (2). Compounds 1 and 2 have been structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 exhibits an intramolecular CHMIDLINE HORIZONTAL ELLIPSISSe contact compatible with a weak hydrogen bond.