半夹心结构有机金属铱和铑化合物[Cp*M(TmMe)]Cl(M=Ir，Rh；TmMe=三(2-巯基-1-甲基咪唑)硼酸根)的合成与表征

三齿配体三(2-巯基-1-甲基咪唑)硼酸盐[TmMe]K与含有半夹心结构金属铱和铑化合物[Cp*Ir(μ-Cl)Cl]2和[Cp*Rh(μ-Cl)Cl]2反应形成具有18电子结构的配合物[Cp*Ir(TmMe)]Cl(1)和[Cp*Rh(TmMe)]Cl(2).所有的化合物都经过IR,NMR和EA表征,并通过X-射线衍射单晶结构分析测定了配合物2的分子结构.     

均相体系中铱催化2-取代-1,2-二氢喹啉类化合物的脱氢芳构化

 采用原位制备的铱双膦(或膦氮)配合物在碘存在下催化2-取代-1,2-二氢喹啉、2-甲基-2,3-二氢吲哚、1,4-二氢吡啶及3,4-二氢异喹啉等化合物的脱氢芳构化反应, 并考察了不同金属前体、配体、催化剂用量、溶剂和碘等因素对反应速率和选择性的影响. 结果表明,原位制备的［Ir(COD)Cl］2/(±)-MeO-Biphep在碘的存在下催化2-取代-1,2-二氢喹啉的脱氢芳构化反应速率快, 选择性好,催化剂的用量少; 对1,4-二氢吡啶和2,3-二氢吲哚的催化脱氢芳构化反应则须在高温下进行; 而对 3,4-二氢异喹啉, 即使在加热回流条件下也只有不到5%的转化率. 催化体系中碘的存在可以明显提高反应速率.     

手性吡啶-2,6-双酰胺钴（Ⅲ）配合物的合成与光谱分析

合成了配体2,6-双{N-［（1′-甲基羟基-2′-苯基）乙基］氨基甲酰胺}吡啶及其钴（Ⅲ）配合物,利用核磁共振氢谱、核磁共振碳谱、红外光谱和元素分析对配体的结构进行确证,经表征配合物组成为{［Co（L-2H）］2O2}?2H2O。红外光谱分析表明,该配体为四齿配体,通过2个酰胺氮原子和2个羟基氧原子参与钴（Ⅲ）配位。运用圆二色谱对目标配体和配合物的光学活性进行分析,结果表明两者均为手性化合物。     

1-(2-羟基苯基)-3-苯基-1,3-丙二酮及其铕(Ⅲ)配合物的合成和发光研究

以邻羟基苯乙酮和苯甲酰氯为原料, 经过酯化反应、 Fries重排合成了1-（2-羟基苯基）-3-苯基-1,3-丙二酮（HPPPD）及其与铕（Ⅲ）的配合物, 并通过IR, 热重-差热分析和^1H-NMR谱对其进行了表征. 研究了酚羟基的引入对稀土配合物发光性能的影响. 结果表明该配体与铕（Ⅲ）形成的配合物发出很强的铕（Ⅲ）的特征荧光, 并且以邻菲罗啉为第二配体的三元配合物的荧光强度明显高于二元配合物. 但是, 配体HPPPD与铽（Ⅲ）、钐（Ⅲ）和镝（Ⅲ）等形成的配合物, 无论是二元的, 还是三元的发光均很弱. 这是由于该配体的能级与不同稀土离子能级匹配程度的差别所致.     

Synthesis and Spectral Analysis of Chiral Cobalt ( Ⅲ )Complex of Pvridine-2, 6-diamides

合成了配体2,6-双{ N-[(1'-甲基羟基-2’-苯基)乙基]氨基甲酰胺}吡啶及其钴(Ⅲ)配合物,利用核磁共振氢谱、核磁共振碳谱、红外光谱和元素分析对配体的结构进行确证,经表征配合物组成为{[Co(L-2H)]2O2}·2H2O.红外光谱分析表明,该配体为四齿配体,通过2个酰胺氮原子和2个羟基氧原子参与钴(Ⅲ)配位.运用圆二色谱对目标配体和配合物的光学活性进行分析,结果表明两者均为手性化合物.     

2-吡唑啉9-芳基邻菲咯啉镍配合物的合成及催化乙烯齐聚的研究

利用1-苯基-3-(2,4,6-三甲基苯基)丙烯酮和2-肼-9-芳基邻菲咯啉的缩合反应合成了一系列2-[N-(3-笨基-5(2,4,6-三甲基笨基)吡唑啉)]-9-芳基邻菲咯啉类配体(L_1-L_4),分别与NiCl_2反应得到了相应的配合物[NiCl_2](1-4), 对配体和配合物进行了表征, 并用X-单晶衍射分析了配合物4的晶体结构, 表明Ni中心为五配位的四方锥构型. 化合物l-4在MAO存在下对乙烯齐聚表现出良好的催化活性. 在1 Mpa 乙烯压力下, 化合物4的催化活性最好, 高达2.52×10~5g mol~(-1) h~(-1). 讨论了配体空间位阻及反应条件对乙烯齐聚活性的影响, 发现邻菲咯啉的9-位位阻对催化活性影响更明显.     

[2-(2-羟基苯基)亚氨甲基苯硫酚根(2-)-N,O,S](2-甲氧羰基乙基-C,O)氯化锡的合成及性质

利用 2 -甲氧羰基乙基三氯化锡与硫代水杨醛缩邻氨基苯酚 (H2 L)进行反应合成了标题配合物 [2 -(2 -羟基苯基 )亚氨甲基苯硫酚根 (2 -) -N,O,S](2 -甲氧羰基乙基 -C,O)氯化锡 CH3OCOCH2 CH2 Sn Cl L(L=2 -SC6 H4 CH NC6 H4 O-2 ) ,该配合物与二甲基亚砜 (DMSO)、六甲基磷酰胺 (HMPA)等单齿配体反应生成混配配合物 CH3OCOCH2 CH2 Sn Cl LL′(L′=DMSO,HMPA) ,与醇 (ROH)反应生成相应的 2 -烷氧羰基乙基锡配合物 ROCOCH2 CH2 Sn Cl L.通过元素分析、红外光谱、核磁共振谱等对配合物的结构进行了表征 .用 X射线单晶衍射测定了标题配合物的晶体结构 ,晶体属三斜晶系 ,P1空间群 ,Z=2 ,晶胞参数 a=0 .870 4(2 )nm,b=0 .93 93 (3 ) nm,c=1 .45 1 1 (3 ) nm,α=98.0 5 (3 )°,β=1 0 3 .0 3 (3 )°,γ=96.99(3 )°.该配合物具有分子内羰基氧原子和配体 L的硫、氮、氧原子对锡原子配位的畸变八面体结构 .     

(±)-2-甲基-5-羟基-2-(4'-甲基-3'-戊烯基)-二氢-1-苯并吡喃黄烷酮的全合成

以2,4,6-三羟基苯乙酮和柠檬醛为起始原料,经环化、保护酚羟基、羟醛缩合、脱保护、催化环化等反应以5.9%的总产率完成了天然产物(±)-2-甲基-5-羟基-2-(4'-甲基-3'-戊烯基)-二氢-1-苯并吡喃黄烷酮的全合成,其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR和HR-ESI-MS确证。     

半三明治型铱催化剂催化氢化葡萄糖制备山梨糖醇

使用[Cp*Ir-(di-OH-bpy)(OH_2)][SO_4](di-OH-bpy=4,4'-二羟基-2,2'-联吡啶)作催化剂,高效实现了葡萄糖开环加氢制备山梨糖醇.通过氢源的比较和氢气作为氢源的条件优化,山梨糖醇最高产率可达96%.同时研究了铱催化剂中不同配体对加氢效果的影响,并对氢化过程可能的机理进行了相应阐述.Cp*Ir与氢气的催化体系具有反应条件温和、产物选择性高等优点,为其他生物质基平台分子的催化加氢制备高附加值化学品提供了一种有效的方法.     

铱(Ⅲ)卟啉β-羟乙与基醛的碳氢键活化(英文)

铱(Ⅲ)卟啉β-羟乙基,IrⅢ(ttp)CH2CH2OH(ttp=5,10,15,20-二价阴离子tetratolylporphyrinato),发现选择性裂解芳醛的醛的碳-氢键和给铱酰基配合物。酰基铱配合物对羰基化和脱羰反应以及潜在的功能化研究的很好的候选材料。这碳-氢键的建议活化机理:通过初始的β-羟基消除IrⅢ(ttp)CH2CH2OH生成IrⅢ(ttp)OH,然后进行与醛的CH键的σ-键复分解发生。     

Guerbet reaction of primary alcohols leading to beta-alkylated dimer alcohols catalyzed by iridium complexes

[IrCl(cod)]2 and [Cp*IrCl2]2 complexes catalyzed efficiently the Guerbet reaction of primary alcohols to beta-alkylated dimer alcohols in good yields. For instance, the reaction of 1-butanol in the presence of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (1 mol %), t-BuOK (40 mol %), and 1,7-octadiene (10 mol %) produced 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in 93% yield. Various primary alcohols undergo the Guerbet reaction under the influence of Ir complexes to give the corresponding dimer alcohols in good yields. This method provides an alternative direct route to beta-alkylated primary alcohols which are prepared by aldol condensation of aldehydes followed by hydrogenation.     

Variable coordination of amine functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene ligands to Ru, Rh and Ir: C-H and N-H activation and catalytic transfer hydrogenation

Chelating amine and amido complexes of late transition metals are highly valuable bifunctional catalysts in organic synthesis, but complexes of bidentate amine-NHC and amido-NHC ligands are scarce. Hence, we report the reactions of a secondary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2a and a primary-amine functionalised imidazolium salt 2b with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) and [Cp*MCl(2)](2) (M = Rh, Ir). Treating 2a with [Cp*MCl(2)](2) and NaOAc gave the cyclometallated compounds Cp*M(C,C)I (M = Rh, 3; M = Ir, 4), resulting from aromatic C-H activation. In contrast, treating 2b with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2), Ag(2)O and KI gave the amine-NHC complex [(p-cymene)Ru(C,NH(2))I]I (5). The reaction of 2b with [Cp*MCl(2)](2) (M = Rh, Ir), NaO(t)Bu and KI gave the amine-NHC complex [Cp*Rh(NH(2))I]I (6) or the amido-NHC complex Cp*Ir(C,NH)I (7); both protonation states of the Ir complex could be accessed: treating 7 with trifluoroacetic acid gave the amine-NHC complex [Cp*Ir(C,NH(2))I][CF(3)CO(2)] (8). These are the first primary amine- or amido-NHC complexes of Rh and Ir. Solid-state structures of the complexes 3-8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 5, 6 and 7 are pre-catalysts for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol, with ruthenium complex 5 demonstrating especially high reactivity.     

Isolation and crystal structure of a water-soluble iridium hydride: a robust and highly active catalyst for acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenations of carbonyl compounds in acidic media

This paper reports the isolation and structural determination of a water-soluble hydride complex [Cp*Ir(III)(bpy)H](+) (1, Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5), bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) that serves as a robust and highly active catalyst for acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenations of carbonyl compounds at pH 2.0-3.0 at 70 degrees C. The catalyst 1 was synthesized from the reaction of a precatalyst [Cp*Ir(III)(bpy)(OH(2))](2+) (2) with hydrogen donors HCOOX (X = H or Na) in H(2)O under controlled conditions (2.0 < pH < 6.0, 25 degrees C) which avoid protonation of the hydrido ligand of 1 below pH ca. 1.0 and deprotonation of the aqua ligand of 2 above pH ca. 6.0 (pK(a) value of 2 = 6.6). X-ray analysis shows that complex 1 adopts a distorted octahedral geometry with the Ir atom coordinated by one eta(5)-Cp*, one bidentate bpy, and one terminal hydrido ligand that occupies a bond position. The isolation of 1 allowed us to investigate the robust ability of 1 in acidic media and reducing ability of 1 in the reaction with carbonyl compounds under both stoichiometric and catalytic conditions. The rate of the acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation is drastically dependent on pH of the solution, reaction temperature, and concentration of HCOOH. The effect of pH on the rate of the transfer hydrogenation is rationalized by the pH-dependent formation of 1 and activation process of the carbonyl compounds by protons. High turnover frequencies of the acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenations at pH 2.0-3.0 are ascribed not only to nucleophilicity of 1 toward the carbonyl groups activated by protons but also to a protonic character of the hydrido ligand of 1 that inhibits the protonation of the hydrido ligand.     

Nitrogen atom insertion into Ir-S and C-S bonds initiated by photolysis of iridium(III)-azido-dithiocarbamato complexes

Photolysis of acetonitrile solutions of Cp*Ir(R2dtc)(N3) [Cp* = eta5-C5Me5, R2dtc = S2CNR2; R = Me (1) or Et (1')] at temperatures below 0 degrees C afford five-coordinate complexes Cp*Ir{NSC(NR2)S} (2 or 2'), where a nitrogen atom has been inserted into one of the Ir-S bonds. In solution, complex 2 thermally convert to the azaethene-1,2-dithiolate complex, Cp*Ir[SN=C(NMe2)S] (3), which could be crystallized as the corresponding dimer, {Cp*Ir[mu-SN=C(NMe2)S-kappa3S:S,S']}2 (4). As a result, a nitrogen atom that originated in the azide ligand is transferred into a C-S bond of the dithiocarbamate.     

Quasi-octahedral complexes of pentamethylcyclopentadienyliridium(III) bearing bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine (dpmp)

Reaction of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (1) with dpmp in the presence of KPF6 afforded a binuclear complex [Cp*IrCl(dpmp-P1,P2;P3)IrCl2Cp*](PF6) (2) (dpmp =(Ph2PCH2)2PPh). The mononuclear complex [Cp*IrCl(dpmp-P1,P2)](PF6) (4) was generated by the reaction of [Cp*IrCl2(BDMPP)](BDMPP =PPh[2,6-(MeO)2C6H3]2) with dpmp in the presence of KPF6. These mono- and binuclear complexes have four-membered ring structures with a terminal and a central P atom of the dpmp ligand coordinated to an iridium atom as a bidentate ligand. Since there are two chiral centers at the Ir atom and a central P2 atom, there are two diastereomers that were characterized by spectrometry. Complexes anti-4 and syn-4 reacted with [Cp*RhCl2]2 or [(C6Me6)RuCl2]2, giving the corresponding mixed-metal complexes, anti- and syn- [Cp*IrCl(dppm-P1,P2;P3)MCl2L](PF6) (6: M = Rh, L = Cp*; 7: M = Ru, L = C6Me6). Treatment with AuCl(SC4H8) gave tetranuclear complexes, anti- and syn-8 [[Cp*IrCl(dppm-P1,P2;P3)AuCl]2](PF6)2 bearing an Au-Au bond. Reaction of anti- with PtCl2(cod) generated the trinuclear complex anti-9, anti-[[Cp*IrCl(dppm-P1,P2;P3)]2PtCl2](PF6)2. These reactions proceeded stereospecifically. The P,O-chelated complex syn-[Cp*IrCl(BDMPP-P,O)] (syn-10)(BDMPP-P,O = PPh[2,6-(MeO)2C6H3][2-O-6-(MeO)C6H3]2) reacted with dpmp in the presence of KPF6, generating the corresponding anti-complex as a main product as well as a small amount of syn-complex, [Cp*Ir(BDMPP-P,O)(dppm-P1)](PF6) (11). The reaction proceeded preferentially with inversion. The reaction processes were investigated by PM3 calculation. anti- was treated with MCl2(cod), giving anti-[Cp*Ir(BDMPP-P,O)(dppm-P1;P2,P3)MCl2](PF6)(14: M = Pt; 15: M = Pd), in which the MCl2 moiety coordinated to the two free P atoms of anti-11. The X-ray analyses of syn-2, anti-2, anti-4, anti-8 and anti-11 were performed.     

Ligand Effect on the Stability of Water-Soluble Iridium Catalysts for High-Pressure Hydrogen Gas Production by Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid

Aiming to develop a highly effective and durable catalyst for high-pressure H₂ production from dehydrogenation of formic acid (DFA), the ligand effect on the catalytic activity and stability of Cp*Ir (Cp*:pentamethylcyclopentadienyl anion) complexes were investigated using 5 different kinds of N,N’-bidentate ligands (bipyridine, biimidazoline, pyridyl-imidazoline, pyridyl-pyrazole and picolinamide). The Ir complex with biimidazoline ligand exhibited the highest catalytic activity, but deactivation occurred readily at high pressure. The pyridine moiety in the ligand can enhance the stability of Ir complex catalysts for the high-pressure reaction. The Ir complex catalyst containing pyridyl-imidazoline ligand showed the high activity and best stability under the high-pressure conditions.     

C-H activation on a diphosphine and hydrido-bridged diiridium complex: generation and detection of an active IrII-IrII species [(Cp*Ir)2(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)]+

Reaction of [Cp*Ir(micro-H)](2) (5) (Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with bis(dimethylphosphino)methane (dmpm) gives a new neutral diiridium complex [(Cp*Ir)(2)(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)(2)] (3). Treatment of 3 with methyl triflate at -30 degrees C results in the formation of [(Cp*Ir)(H)(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)(Me)(IrCp*)][OTf] (6). Warming a solution of above 0 degrees C brings about predominant generation of 32e(-) Ir(II)-Ir(II) species [(Cp*Ir)(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)(IrCp*)][OTf] (7). Further heating of the solution of 7 up to 30 degrees C for 14 h leads to quantitative formation of a new complex [(Cp*Ir)(H)(micro-Me(2)PCH(2)PMeCH(2))(micro-H)(IrCp*)][OTf] (8), which is formed by intramolecular oxidative addition of the methyl C-H bond of the dmpm ligand. Intermolecular C-H bond activation reactions with 7 are also examined. Reactions of 7 with aromatic molecules (benzene, toluene, furan, and pyridine) at room temperature result in the smooth sp(2) C-H activation to give [(Cp*Ir)(H)(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)(Ar)(IrCp*)][OTf] (Ar = Ph (9); Ar = m-Tol (10a) or p-Tol (10b); Ar = 2-Fur (11)) and [(Cp*Ir)(H)(micro-dmpm)(micro-C(5)H(4)N)(H)(IrCp*)][OTf] (12), respectively. Complex also reacts with cyclopentene at 0 degrees C to give [(Cp*Ir)(H)(micro-dmpm)(micro-H)(1-cyclopentenyl)(IrCp*)][OTf] (13). Structures of 3, 8 and 12 have been confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Inter- and intramolecular activation of aromatic C-H bonds by diphosphine and hydrido-bridged dinuclear iridium complexes

Reactions of [(Cp*Ir)2(mu-dmpm)(mu-H)2]2+ (1) with NaOtBu in aromatic solvent at room temperature give [(Cp*Ir)(H)(mu-dmpm)(mu-H)(Cp*Ir)(Ar)]+ [Ar = Ph (3), p-Tol (4a), m-Tol (4b), 2-furanyl (5a), 3-furanyl (5b)] via intermolecular aromatic C-H activation. Treatment of [(Cp*Ir)2(mu-dppm)(mu-H)2]2+ (2) with base (Et2NH) results in intramolecular C-H activation of the phenyl group in the dppm ligand to give [(Cp*Ir)(H){mu-PPh(C6H4)CH2PPh2}(mu-H)(Cp*Ir)]+ (6). The structures of 3, 5a, and 6 have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Construction of trinuclear iridium clusters through ancillary ortho-carborane-1,2-diselenolato ligands, with simultaneous iridium-induced B-H activation

The reaction of the 16-electron "pseudo-aromatic" complex Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H10)] (1, Cp* = eta5-C5Me5) with [Ir(cod)(micro-OC2H5)]2 leads to the trinuclear iridium complexes {(cod)Ir[Se2C2(B10H8)(OC2H5)]}Ir{[Se2C2(B10H10)]IrCp*} (2), {(cod)Ir[Se2C2(B10H8)(OC2H5)]}Ir{[Se2C2(B10H9)]IrCp*} (3), {Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H9)]}{IrSe(2)[C2(B10H9)(OC2H5)]}{[Se2C2(B10H10)] IrCp*} (4) and one mononuclear complex Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H8)(OC2H5)(2)] (5). The reactivity of 2 was investigated and revealed that transformation from 2 to 3 occurred thermally in solution. The transoid complex 2 (with the carborane diselenolato units in trans position) can be converted in nearly 90% yield to the cisoid complex 3. In complexes 2, 3, two diselenolato carborane ligands bridge the Ir(3) core, which consists of Ir-Ir metal bonds. Compared with transoid 2, the cisoid 3 contains two iridium-boron bonds. Complex 4 consists of three different coordination environment carborane ligands (Ir-B(cluster): {Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H9)]}, O-B(cluster): {[Se2C2(B10H9)](OC2H5)}, and intact carborane: {Cp*Ir[Se2C2 (B10H10)]}) without the presence of a metal-metal bond. Analogous reaction of 1 with [Ir(cod)(micro-OCH(3))](2) results in formation of the trinuclear complex {Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H9)]}{IrSe(2)[C2(B10H9)(OCH3)]}{[Se2C2(B10H10)]IrCp*} (6) and mononuclear complex Cp*Ir[Se2C2(B10H8)(OCH3)(2)] (7). The structures of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been determined by crystallographic studies.     

Versatile reactivity of half-sandwich Ir and Rh complexes toward carboranylamidinates and their derivatives: synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity for norbornene polymerization

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of carboranylamidinate‐based half‐sandwich iridium and rhodium complexes are reported for the first time. Treatment of dimeric metal complexes [{Cp*M(μ‐Cl)Cl}₂] (M=Ir, Rh; Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) with a solution of one equivalent of nBuLi and a carboranylamidine produces 18‐electron complexes [Cp*IrCl(Cab^N‐DIC)] ( 1 a ; Cab^N‐DIC=[iPrN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHiPr)]), [Cp*RhCl(Cab^N‐DIC)] ( 1 b ), and [Cp*RhCl(Cab^N‐DCC)] ( 1 c ; Cab^N‐DCC=[CyN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHCy)]). A series of 16‐electron half‐sandwich Ir and Rh complexes [Cp*Ir(Cab^N′‐DIC)] ( 2 a ; Cab^N′‐DIC=[iPrN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NiPr)]), [Cp*Ir(Cab^N′‐DCC)] ( 2 b , Cab^N′‐DCC=[CyN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NCy)]), and [Cp*Rh(Cab^N′‐DIC)] ( 2 c ) is also obtained when an excess of nBuLi is used. The unexpected products [Cp*M(Cab^N,S‐DIC)], [Cp*M(Cab^N,S‐DCC)] (M=Ir 3 a , 3 b ; Rh 3 c , 3 d ), formed through BH activation, are obtained by reaction of [{Cp*MCl₂}₂] with carboranylamidinate sulfides [RN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHR)]S^? (R=iPr, Cy), which can be prepared by inserting sulfur into the C? Li bond of lithium carboranylamidinates. Iridium complex 1 a shows catalytic activities of up to 2.69×10⁶ g_PNB ${{\rm{mol}}_{{\rm{Ir}}}^{ - {\rm{1}}} }Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of carboranylamidinate-based half-sandwich iridium and rhodium complexes are reported for the first time. Treatment of dimeric metal complexes [{Cp*M(μ-Cl)Cl}(2)] (M = Ir, Rh; Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with a solution of one equivalent of nBuLi and a carboranylamidine produces 18-electron complexes [Cp*IrCl(Cab(N)-DIC)] (1?a; Cab(N)-DIC = [iPrN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHiPr)]), [Cp*RhCl(Cab(N)-DIC)] (1?b), and [Cp*RhCl(Cab(N)-DCC)] (1?c; Cab(N)-DCC = [CyN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHCy)]). A series of 16-electron half-sandwich Ir and Rh complexes [Cp*Ir(Cab(N')-DIC)] (2?a; Cab(N')-DIC = [iPrN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NiPr)]), [Cp*Ir(Cab(N')-DCC)] (2?b, Cab(N')-DCC = [CyN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10)(NCy)]), and [Cp*Rh(Cab(N')-DIC)] (2?c) is also obtained when an excess of nBuLi is used. The unexpected products [Cp*M(Cab(N,S)-DIC)], [Cp*M(Cab(N,S)-DCC)] (M = Ir 3?a, 3?b; Rh 3?c, 3?d), formed through BH activation, are obtained by reaction of [{Cp*MCl(2)}(2)] with carboranylamidinate sulfides [RN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHR)]S(-) (R = iPr, Cy), which can be prepared by inserting sulfur into the C-Li bond of lithium carboranylamidinates. Iridium complex 1?a shows catalytic activities of up to 2.69×10(6) g(PNB) mol(Ir)(-1) h(-1) for the polymerization of norbornene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. Catalytic activities and the molecular weight of polynorbornene (PNB) were investigated under various reaction conditions. All complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis and IR and NMR spectroscopy; the structures of 1?a-c, 2?a, b; and 3?a, b, d were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.