Proton and Electron Additions to Iron(Ii) Dinitrogen Complexes Containing Pendant Amines

Protonation of an iron C-H activated complex containing pendant amines in the presence of N-2 generated a cis-(H)Fe-II-N-2 complex. Addition of acid protonates the pendant amines. Reduction of the protonated complex results in N-2 loss and H-2 formation, followed by N-2 binding. The origin of H-2 formation in this Fe system is compared to proposed mechanisms for H-2 loss and N-2 coordination in the E-4 state of nitrogenase.