Flash Communication: Isonitrile Cyclization and Indole Tautomerization at a Tucked-in Iron Complex

Treatment of a tucked-in iron(II) diphosphine complex with 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile (CN–Xyl) results in cyclization to afford a pair of iron(II) indole tautomers. This reaction outcome contrasts with that of a structurally analogous acyclic iron(II)-methyl complex, which shows no reaction with CN–Xyl. The structure and onward reactivity of these Fe-bound N -heterocycles are assessed experimentally and computationally.