Alkoxy/siloxy group exchange in the system vinyltrialkoxysilane-iridium(I) siloxide complex

A study of reactions of dimeric siloxide iridium complex, [[(cod)Ir(mu-OSiMe3)]2] (1) with vinyltriethoxysilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane has revealed a new type of the reation--alkoxy group transfer from silicon to iridium with a simultaneous transfer of a siloxy group from iridium to silicon--as a result of which vinyldialkoxytrimethyldisiloxane and dimeric alkoxide iridium complex [[(cod)Ir(mu-OR)]2] (3) are formed. The structure of [[(cod)Ir(mu-OEt)]2] (3a) has been solved by X-ray diffraction.