Synthesis and Catalytic Property of Iron Pincer Complexes Generated by C_sp³–H Activation

When the diphosphinito PCP ligand (Ph₂P­(C₆H₄))₂CH₂ (<b>1</b>) was treated with Fe­(PMe₃)₄ and FeMe₂(PMe₃)₄, the C_sp³–H activation products [(Ph₂P­(C₆H₄))₂CH]­Fe­(H)­(PMe₃)₂ (<b>2</b>) and [(Ph₂P­(C₆H₄))­(PhP­(C₆H₄)₂)­CH]­Fe­(PMe₃)₂ (<b>3</b>) were obtained at room temperature. The generation of product <b>3</b> underwent one C_sp³–H and one C_sp²–H bond activation process. The new iron hydride complex <b>2</b> showed good activity in the catalytic hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones by using (EtO)₃SiH as the hydrogen source under mild conditions. Complexes <b>2</b> and <b>3</b> were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis