A new beta-diketiminate ligand with 2,4,6-tri-(phenyl)phenyl N-substituents provides protective bulk around the metal without exposing any weak C-H bonds. This ligand improves the stability of reactive iron(III) imido complexes with Fe=NAd and Fe=NMes functional groups (Ad = 1-adamantyl; Mes = mesityl). The new ligand gives iron(III) imido complexes that are significantly more reactive toward 1,4-cyclohexadiene than the previously reported 2,6-disopropylphenyl diketiminate variants. Analysis of X-ray crystal structures implicates Fe=N-C bending, a longer Fe=N bond, and greater access to the metal as potential reasons for the increase in C-H bond activation rates.