Room‐Temperature Alkyne–Nitrile Metathesis and Unambiguous Proof for the Existence of a High‐Valent Iron‐Nitrido Dication in the Gas Phase. Short Communication

An unprecedented alkyne–nitrile metathesis takes place when the high‐valent iron‐nitrido dication [Fe(L)N]²⁺, with L=2,6‐bis(2‐methyl‐1,3‐diaminopropan‐2‐yl)pyridine, is reacted with alkynes in the gas phase under thermal conditions. While the detailed role of the alkyne substrate with respect to relative rates, regioselectivities, and branching ratios remains to be elucidated, the very existence of this novel metathesis reaction provides additional experimental evidence of a genuine, long‐lived, formal iron(V)‐nitrido dication.