Evidence for a reactive (alkene)peroxoiridium(III) intermediate in the oxidation of an alkene complex with O2

An (alkene)peroxoiridium(III) complex, Ir(L)(cod)(O(2))] where LH = PhN=C(NMe(2))NHPh and cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene], was identified as an intermediate in the reaction of the Ir(I) precursor Ir(L)(cod)] with O(2) and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Decay of the intermediate and further reaction with 1,5-cyclooctadiene produced 4-cycloocten-1-one.