Ionic iron（III） complex of aryloxo-linked bis（imidazolium） cations： efficient and recyclable catalyst for aryl Grignard cross-coupling of alkyl chlorides

A novel phenol-linked bis（imidazolium） salt, H3LCl2 （L = O-4-C（CH3）3-C6H2-2,6-di[CH2{C（NCHCH- NAr）}]2, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 1）, was designed and used to prepare an ionic iron（III） complex [H2L][FeCl4] （2）. Complex 2 was a highly efficient catalyst for aryl Grignard cross-coupling of alkyl chlorides bearing β-hydrogens. Furthermore, complex 2 was reusable and could be reused in at least eight times without significant loss in catalytic activity.