Enhanced Electron Transfer Reactivity of a Nonheme Iron(IV)-Imido Complex as Compared to the Iron(IV)-Oxo Analogue

Reactions of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) with nonheme iron(IV)-oxo and iron(IV)-tosylimido complexes occur via different mechanisms, such as an N-demethylation of DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex or an electron transfer dimerization of DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)-tosylimido complex. The change in the reaction mechanism results from the greatly enhanced electron transfer reactivity of the iron(IV)-tosylimido complex, such as the much more positive one-electron reduction potential and the smaller reorganization energy during electron transfer, as compared to the electron transfer properties of the corresponding iron(IV)-oxo complex.