“…[4][5][6] Nevertheless, the prevalence of ferrocene as ar edox-switch narrows the potential-window needed to be applied for the redox chemistry to occur,making them largely dependent on those of the Fc 0 /Fc + (Fc = ferrocene) couple.H erein, we wish to introduce an ew,n on-ferrocene based redox-active carbene architecture,w hich makes use of aF e 0 -ligated pyrazinediimine ligand (P Pz DI), where both the iron centre and the ligand framework can be involved in the redox activity. [8] We envisaged that the new ligand scaffold would offer the following advantages: (a) as the formally Fe 0 centre in PDI/ P Pz DI-type ligands (PDI = pyridinediimine,P Pz DI = pyrazinediimine) is more easily oxidised than the Fe II centre in ferrocene,m ilder oxidation conditions would allow access to the oxidised form [9] (b) while in ferrocene,t he iron centre is more reluctant to engage in reactivity,i ron-PDI complexes display very rich chemistry ranging from catalysis to small molecule activation, making them the systems of choice for ac onsiderable number of transformations [10] (c) the P Pz DIligand is itself redox active through the reversible reduction of the imine functionality or ligand core,t herefore allowing access to more redox states.Herein, we wish to communicate the synthesis of the new iron-P Pz DI NHC-like precursors,the redox chemistry of the corresponding rhodium complexes and examples of reversible alcohol and amine activation at the in situ generated carbene centre.…”