Tetrakis diethyl phenylphosphonite dihydroiron II

Fe2+ + 4PhP(OC2H6)2 Bodi -tet .ahydroborate) [FeH2 PhP(OC2H6)2 4] 

In an apparatus identical to that used for the preparation of the cobalt complex are combined 1.27 g. anhydrous iron(II) chloride (0.01 mole), 10 g. diethyl phenylphosphonite (0.05 mole), and 40 ml. absolute ethanol. The mixture is heated to reflux under a slow stream of nitrogen. After 3 hours the heat is removed and a solution of sodium tetrahydroborate in abso- 

All of the complexes described are diamagnetic. The Ni(0) and Co(I) complexes are quite soluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as cyclohexane, and the Fe(II) complex is soluble in both polar and nonpolar organic solvents. The Fe(II) complex is unchanged under nitrogen after several weeks, although it begins to decompose after only a few hours of exposure to air. The Ni(0) and Co(I) complexes are much more stable decomposition occurs only after exposure to air for several days. 

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