In the field of organic electronics, which includes organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaics (OPVs), there is a need for solution processable materials with low work functions. These materials would serve an important role by modifying the Fermi level at electron injecting (OLEDs) and electron collecting (OPVs) electrodes to improve performance. Certain reduced complexes of transition metals (e. g. Ru and Os) are capable of satisfying the aforementioned criteria. On the cyclic voltammetry time-scale [FeL3](2+) complexes, where L = 2,2 '-bipyridine-type ligands, exhibit a series of one-electron, reversible reductions at very similar negative potentials to what is observed for Ru and Os analogs. These similarities are significant because iron would afford an earth-abundant alternative to the higher atomic weight congeners when considering potential applications of these reduced materials. However, in contrast to the analogous Ru and Os complexes, when reduced to the formal [FeL3](0) form, this formally zero-valent complex undergoes a slow decomposition to form Fe-x(0) nanoparticles in non-polar solvent (hexane or toluene). When the bipyridine ligand is appended with long-straight-chain hydrocarbon tails, these particles remain dispersed in solution and are apparently capped with the lipophilic ligand. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.022204jes] All rights reserved.