Mössbauer and mass spectrometry support for iron(ii) catalysts in enantioselective C–H activation†
Abstract
A combination of electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to investigate the species generated in situ in highly enantioselective Fe/NHC-catalyzed C–H alkylations. The findings indicate an organometallic iron(II)–NHC species to be of key relevance in the asymmetric catalysis.