Cyanide attack at low-spin iron(II)?diimine complexes: the structure of a cyanide-containing derivative of a leaving ligand

Abstract

The isolation and structural characterisation of the product of addition of HCN to the Schiff base derived from phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone and 3,4-dimethylaniline (Me 2 bsb) provides evidence in favour of a mechanism involving nucleophilic attack at the coordinated ligand for reaction of the complex [Fe(Me2bsb)3]2+ with cyanide.