Reactions of silanes and germanes with iridium complexes. Part 2. Adducts of silyl and germyl halides and related molecules with trans-carbonylhalogenobis(triethylphosphine)iridium(I)

Abstract

The complex trans-[lr(CO)X(PEt₃)₂](X = Cl or I) forms equimolar adducts with MH₃Q (M = Si, Q = H, Cl, Br, I, CH₃, or SiH₃; M = Ge, Q = H, Cl, Br, or I). The structures of these adducts have been determined by ¹H and ³¹P n.m.r. spectroscopy. Addition is always to give trans-[Ir(CO)H(X)(PEt₃)₂(MH₂Q)]; when M = Si the major (and in most cases the only) product has H trans to Si; when M = Ge the major (and in some cases the only) product has H trans to X. When X = Cl and Q = Br or I, the silyl adducts contain Cl bound to Si and Br or I bound to Ir; when M = Ge, however, the adduct initially formed contains Cl bound to Ir and Br or I bound to Ge, although the last-named adduct decomposes in solution at room temperature.