Bimetallic H 2 Addition and Intramolecular Caryl-H Activation Mediated by an Iron-Zinc Hydride.

Heteronuclear Fe(μ-H)Zn hydride Cp*Fe(1,2-Cy 2 PC 6 H 4 )HZnEt ( 3 ) undergoes reversible intramolecular C aryl -H reductive elimination through coupling of the cyclometalated phosphinoaryl ligand and the hydride, giving rise to a formal Fe(0)-Zn(II) species. Addition of CO intercepts this equilibrium, affording Cp*(Cy 2 PPh)(CO)Fe-ZnEt that features a dative Fe-Zn bond. Significantly, this system achieves bimetallic H 2 addition, as demonstrated by the transformation of the monohydride Fe(μ-H)Zn to a deuterated dihydride Fe-(μ-D) 2 -Zn upon reaction with D 2 .