Simplifying Iron–Phosphine Catalysts for Cross-Coupling Reactions

Any old iron? Iron catalysts based on the widely available diphosphine ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane have not previously fared particularly well in iron-catalyzed cross-coupling processes. However, this turns out not to be due to any inherently poor performance associated with the ligand, but rather the need to form a bis-chelate complex, either before or during the formation of an active Fe^I species.