Dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with S, N, or O coordination function as nitric oxide transfer agents in biol. systems.1,2 However, the few model complexes contg. N-donor ligands, specifically modeling histidine coordination, are extremely air sensitive and difficult to isolate; studies of their reactivity are sparce.3 We report a series of complexes utilizing N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as mimics of imidazole and histidine ligands. The {Fe(NO)2}10 EPR-silent complexes Fe(NO)2(CO)(IMe), Fe(NO)2(CO)(Ii-Pr), Fe(NO)2
