RhIII and IrIII complexes bearing NNO-heteroscorpionates and their application in catalytic transfer hydrogenation

Abstract

Equimolar treatment of the bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-phenylethanol ligand with [M(Cl)₃(H₂O)₃] precursors has been performed to obtain novel NNO-heteroscorpionate rhodium^III (1) and iridium^III (2) complexes. The structural features of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic methods in solution and X-ray crystallography in the solid state. Complexes 1 and 2 are efficient catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes under low catalyst loadings.