Dalton communications. Electron-transfer reactions in iridium(III) dialkyl complexes: activation of C–H bonds on oxidation of [IrMe2(η5-C5Me5)(PR3)](R = Ph or Me)

Abstract

The iridium dimethyl complexes [IrMe₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(PR₃)](R = Ph or Me) react slowly or not at all with C–H bonds of aromatics R′H under severe conditions, but in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂]⁺ or Ag⁺ the activation proceeds at room temperature to give [IrMe(R′)(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(PR₃)] and methane; the intermediacy of iridium(IV) species has been substantiated by electrochemical and EPR studies.