Reaction of an Iron(II) amido complex with thiophenol and Benzeneselenol: Characterization of the adducts and catalytic oxidation by dioxygen.

Two novel iron(II) thiolato and selenolato complexes derived from the reaction of an amido complex with thiophenol (PhSH) and benzeneselenol (PhSeH), respectively, were synthesized and characterized by NMR, UV–visible spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing detailed structural features and ligand binding preferences. Moreover, we examined their reactivity towards dioxygen in solution, highlighting significant differences between the sulfur and selenium analogs. In particular, the selenolato complex exhibits markedly enhanced oxidative reactivity, enabling catalytic aerobic oxidation of benzeneselenol to diphenyldiselenide. • Two novel iron(II) thiolato and selenolato complexes are presented. • They were characterized by NMR, UV–visible spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. • The complexes display oxidative reactivity, enabling catalytic aerobic oxidation of thiophenol and benzeneselenol to diphenyldisulfide and diphenyldiselenide, respectively.