Site-Selectivity in the Fe+-Mediated C?H/C?C Bond Activation of Aldimines Short Communication

It is demonstrated for the first time that the site-selectivity for the Fe⁺-mediated C? H bond activation of aldimines R¹N?CHR² (R¹, R² = alkyl) involves the alkyl chain R¹ by a factor ≥ 12 in comparison to the alkenyl part R². This finding explains previous observations that dehydrogenation of intermediates formed by alkene loss from either R¹ or R² of R¹N?CHR²/Fe⁺ preferentially involves the alkyl part.