N–H activation by O2via O2˙– in FeI(η5-C5H5)(η6-C6Me5NH2) and subsequent formation of an amino-acid zwitterion by mild reaction with CO2

Abstract

The thermally unstable complex Fe^I(cp)(C₆Me₅NH₂), (cp =η⁵C₅H₅) reacts with 1/4 mol of O₂ at –10 ° C in toluene to give Fe^II(cp)(η⁵C₆Me₅NH), the N–H being activated by O₂, consistent with an electron transfer mechanism O₂→ O₂˙^–; the latter complex reacts with CO₂(20 °C, 1 atm) providing Fe⁺(cp)(η⁶-C₆Me₅NHCO₂^–).