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Iron(II) 2,6-diiminopyridine (PDI) complexes, in conjunction with methyl alumoxane (MAO) cocatalyst, have emerged as highly active catalysts for the polymerisation and oligomerisation of ethene. Thus far, this combination constitutes the only iron-based system that shows high activities. Although the exact nature of the propagating species is still under discussion, a cationic, electron-deficient iron alkyl complex has been proposed as the most likely candidate. Literature reports on electron-deficient iron alkyls are relatively scarce compared to the well-established chemistry of their electronically saturated, 18-valence electron counterparts. Consequently, preparation of well-defined electron-deficient iron (alkyl) cations by alkyl abstraction is even less documented. This thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of electrondeficient (= 14 valence electrons) iron monoalkyls supported by anionic nitrogen donor ligands as well as the reactivity of these alkyl complexes towards (perfluorophenyl)borane or -borate type activators. Zie: Summary

Iron(II) 2,6-diiminopyridine (PDI) complexes, in conjunction with methyl alumoxane (MAO) cocatalyst, have emerged as highly active catalysts for the polymerisation and oligomerisation of ethene. Thus far, this combination constitutes the only iron-based system that shows high activities. Although the exact nature of the propagating species is still under discussion, a cationic, electron-deficient iron alkyl complex has been proposed as the most likely candidate. Literature reports on electron-deficient iron alkyls are relatively scarce compared to the well-established chemistry of their electronically saturated, 18-valence electron counterparts. Consequently, preparation of well-defined electron-deficient iron (alkyl) cations by alkyl abstraction is even less documented. This thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of electrondeficient (= 14 valence electrons) iron monoalkyls supported by anionic nitrogen donor ligands as well as the reactivity of these alkyl complexes towards (perfluorophenyl)borane or -borate type activators. Zie: Summary