Despite being implicated as important intermediates, iron(V) compounds have proven very challenging to isolate and characterize. Here, we report the preparation of the iron(V) nitrido complex, [PhB((t)BuIm)(3)Fe(V)≡N]BAr(F24) (PhB((t)BuIm)(3)(-) = phenyltris(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)borato, BAr(F24) = B(3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))(4)(-)), by one electron oxidation of the iron(IV) nitrido precursor. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction of the iron(V) complex reveals a four-coordinate metal ion with a terminal nitrido ligand. Mößbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic characterization, supported by electronic structure calculations, provide evidence for a d(3) iron(V) metal center in a low spin (S = 1/2) electron configuration. Low-temperature reaction of the iron(V) nitrido complex with water under reducing conditions leads to high yields of ammonia with concomitant formation of an iron(II) species.

High on nitride: Discrete iron nitride complexes stabilized by N‐anchored tris(carbene) ligands have been synthesized (see picture). These high‐valent FeIVN complexes are stable at room temperature, which allows their full spectroscopic and—for the first time—crystallographic characterization.

The activity of an yttrium alkoxide complex supported by a ferrocene-based ligand was controlled using redox reagents during the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide. The oxidized complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography and (1)H NMR, XANES, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Switching in situ between the oxidized and reduced yttrium complexes resulted in a change in the rate of polymerization of L-lactide. Synthesized polymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography. Polymerization of trimethylene carbonate was also performed with the reduced and oxidized forms of an indium alkoxide complex. The indium system showed the opposite behavior to that of yttrium, revealing a metal-based dependency on the rate of polymerization.

The four-coordinate iron(II) phosphoraniminato complex PhB(MesIm)(3)Fe-N═PPh(3) undergoes an S = 0 to S = 2 spin transition with T(C) = 81 K, as determined by variable-temperature magnetic measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the S = 0 to S = 2 transition is associated with an increase in the Fe-C and Fe-N bond distances and a decrease in the N-P bond distance. These structural changes have been interpreted in terms of electronic structure theory.

The activity of cerium alkoxide complexes supported by a Schiff base ligand was controlled using redox reagents during the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide. The rate of L-lactide polymerization was modified by switching in situ between the cerium(III) and cerium(IV) species.