CHAPTER 8: Accessing Low Oxidation-state Iron Catalysts; Iron-catalysed Reductive Functionalisation

The use of iron catalysis in synthetic chemistry has increased significantly in recent years. The low toxicity, low environmental impact and high abundance of iron makes it a perfect framework for catalysis, particularly in health related and dispersive (non-recycled) technologies. The iron-catalysed reductive functionalisation of alkenes and alkynes requires the use of low oxidation-state iron (pre-)catalysts. This chapter describes general strategies that have been developed to access these catalysts from bench-stable precursors, with each method exemplified through selected hydrofunctionalisation reactions.