Diiron Amido−Imido Complex [(Cp*Fe)₂(μ₂-NHPh)(μ₂-NPh)]:  Synthesis and a Net Hydrogen Atom Abstraction Reaction To Form a Bis(imido) Complex

A reaction between [Cp*FeCl]_x and LiNHPh (1 equiv to Fe) produces a new paramagnetic Fe(II)−Fe(III) μ₂-amido−μ₂-imido complex [(Cp*Fe)₂(μ₂-NHPh)(μ₂-NPh)] (1), which, upon interaction with 2,2‘-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), undergoes a net N−H hydrogen atom abstraction reaction to give a diamagnetic Fe(III)−Fe(III) μ₂-imido dimer [Cp*Fe(μ₂-NPh)]₂ (2). The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.