Activation of C-H bonds in saturated hydrocarbons. The selective,catalytic functionalisation of methyl groups by means of a soluble iridium polyhydride system

The selective, catalytic conversion of methylcyclohexane into methylenecyclohexane at 100°C, and of n-hexene into 1-hexene at 45°C, has been effected using bis(triisapropylphosphine)iridium pentahydride and an olefin (neohexene) as a hydrogen acceptor; with this system, approximate relative reactivities of C-H bonds in saturated hydrocarbons are: sec-alkyl-H, 1; iso-alkyl-H, 8; n-alkyl-H, > 60.