Reductive dimerization of α-bromoimines via (η3-1-azaallyl)dicarbonylnitrosyliron complexes

Reaction of two equivalents of α-bromo-N-methoxyalkanimines with tetra-n-butylammonium tricarbonylnitrosylferrate gave a reductively dimerized product of α-bromoimines, in which the reaction (η3-1-azaallyl)dicarbonylnitrosyliron complexes are intermediates for the dimerization reaction of α-bromoimines. Variable temperature 1H NMR study of the η3-1-azaallyl iron complex thus obtained demonstrated that the bonding of the azaallyl ligand is fluxional at room temperature, but is fixed below 233 K.