Durene-rhodium(I) complexes. Crystal structures of the complexes [Rh(durene)(diolefin)]ClO4 (diolefin  tetrafluorobenzobarrelene or trimethyltetrafluorobenzobarrelene)

The crystal structures of [Rh(durene)(diolefin)ClO₄ (diolefin  tetrafluorobenzobarrelene (TFB) and trimethyltetrafluorobenzobarrelene (Me₃TFB)) have been solved by standard X-ray single crystal methods. The compounds crystallize in the space groups R₃c for the unmethylated TFB compound and P2₁/n for the methylated one. The cell dimensions are 25.7586(5), 17.0059(4) Å and 12.6686(6), 11.5565(3), 16.7269(8) Å, β  104.023(5)°, respectively. The refinement was taken to R values of 0.04 and 0.06, respectively. The arene in the TFB derivative has a distorted inverted boat conformation which becomes a skew one in the Me₃TFB compound. These puckering seems to be related to the tendency of rhodium(I) to achieve square-planar coordination.     

A rare unsupported iridium(II) dimer, [IrCl2(CO)2]2

Oxidative additions of dichloromethanes to a diiridium(i) core, bridged by 2-ferrocenyl-1,8-naphthyridines (NP-Fc), provide an iridium(II) dimer, [IrCl2(CO)2(eta 1-NP-Fc)]2, featuring an unsupported Ir-Ir single bond (2.7121(8) A).     

On the reactivity of [IrCl(N2)(PPh3)2] with alkynylsilanes - A new route to vinylidene iridium(I) complexes

The iridium dinitrogen complex [IrCl(N₂)(PPh₃)₂] (1) was found to react with alkynylsilanes to form the vinylidene iridium(I) complexes trans- (R/R′ = Ph/Me, 2; Me/Me, 3; Bn/Me, 4; SiMe₃/Me, 5; SiEt₃/Et, 6; ⁱPr/Me, 7) and with Me₃SiCCC(O)R to yield the iridium η²-alkyne complexes trans-[IrCl{η²-Me₃SiCCC(O)R}(PPh₃)₂] (R = OEt, 9; Me, 11). Complex 9 was found to isomerize upon heating or upon UV irradiation yielding the vinylidene complex trans-[IrCl{CC(SiMe₃)CO₂Et}(PPh₃)₂] (10). The reaction of 1 with Me₃SiCCCCSiMe₃ yielded the complex trans-[IrCl{CC(SiMe₃)CCSiMe₃}(PPh₃)₂] (8), whereas with MeO₂CCCCO₂Me the iridacyclopentadiene complex [Ir{C₄(CO₂Me)₄}Cl(PPh₃)₂] (13) was formed. The complexes were characterized by means of ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy as well as by IR spectroscopy and microanalysis.     

Rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes of pyrazolyl-N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Several Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes containing an N-heterocyclic carbene-pyrazolyl chelate ligand have been synthesised. Determination of the single-crystal X-ray structure of the Ir(I) complex showed a novel binding mode with the iridium centre coordinated to two ligands via two carbene donors in preference to one ligand forming the entropically favoured chelate. The hydrogenation activity of several of these complexes was investigated along with that of previously synthesised Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes containing an analogous phosphine-pyrazolyl chelate.     

Multiple state emission from rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes

The effect of temperature (2–100 K) on the emission spectra and lifetimes of [M(2 = phos)₂]ClO₄ (M = Rh(I), Ir(I): 2 = phos is cis-1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethylene) is interpreted with a two-level spin-orbit-split emitting manifold. For [Ir(2 = phos)₂]ClO₄, Δ? = 143cm^?1, τ(lower) = 999μs, and τ(higher) = 1.54 μs. For the rhodium species, Δ? = 35 cm^?1, τ(lower) = 5920 μs, and τ(higher) = 20.3 μs.     

Unexpected transfer of phenyl from a phenylbismuth complex to iridium in [Cp*IrCl2]2

Tetranuclear [PhBi(pyzc)₂]₄·2(H₂O) (1) (where pyzc^??=?2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid) is easily obtained via reaction of BiPh₃ and Hpyzc under reflux. Treatment of 1 with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ affords phenyliridium complex [Cp*Ir(Ph)(2-(NC₄H₃N)CO₂)] (2). Unexpected transfer of phenyl from 1 to iridium occurs. The structures of 1 and 2 are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each bismuth in 1 is in the center of distorted pentagonal pyramidal geometry, equatorially coordinating one κ²-N,O and one μ₂-(κ²-N,O),O′ pyzc, axially binding to phenyl. Complex 2 displays a typical piano-stool geometry with the metal center coordinated by Cp*, a terminal phenyl, and a chelating N,O-ligand. The UV–vis spectrum of 2 is described.     

Intramolecular rearrangement in diphenylfulvene complexes of iridium(I) and rhodium(I)

Variable temperature NMR spectra of the complexes [M(C₅H₄CPh₂)(C₈H₁₂)]X (C₅H₄CPh₂ = 6,6-diphenylfulvene; C₈H₁₂ = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; M = Ir, X = PF₆; M = Rh, X = ClO₄) provide evidence of intramolecular rearrangement involving rotation of the diphenylfulvene ligand about the metal-fulvene axis. Rearrangement is slow on the NMR time-scale for both complexes at 223 K: spectra recorded at higher temperatures indicate that the barrier to rotation of the diphenylfulvene ligand is lower for the iridium than for the rhodium complex.     

[IrCl(cod)]2-catalyzed direct oxidative esterification of aldehydes with alcohols

[IrCl(cod)]₂ catalyzed the oxidative esterification of a variety of aldehydes with methanol as a solvent in combination with K₂CO₃ under mild conditions (rt, 12 h). The oxidative esterification reaction of aliphatic aldehydes also took place with olefinic alcohols as reagents in toluene under similar conditions.     

Protonation reactions of dinuclear pyrazolato iridium(I) complexes

The complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] (1) undergoes double protonation reactions with HCl and with HO(2)CCF(3) to give the neutral dihydride complexes [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(X)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] (X = Cl, eta(1)-O(2)CCF(3)), in which the hydride ligands were located trans to the X groups and in the boat of the complexes, both in the solid state and in solution. The complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(Cl)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] evolves in solution to the cationic complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]Cl. Removal of the anionic chloride by reaction with methyltriflate allows the isolation of the triflate salt [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]OTf. This complex undergoes a metathesis reaction of hydride by chloride in CDCl(3) under exposure to the direct sunlight to give the complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(Cl)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]OTf. Protonation of both metal centers in [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CO)(2)](2)] with HCl occurs at low temperature, but eventually the mononuclear compound [IrCl(HPz)(CO)(2)] is isolated. The related complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CO)(P[OPh](3))](2)] reacts with HCl and with HO(2)CCF(3) to give the neutral Ir(III)/Ir(III) complexes [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(X)(CO)(P[OPh](3))](2)], respectively. Both reactions were found to take place stepwise, allowing the isolation of the intermediate monohydrides. They are of different natures, i.e., the metal-metal-bonded Ir(II)/Ir(II) compound [(P[OPh](3))(CO)(Cl)Ir(mu-Pz)(2)Ir(H)(CO)(P[OPh](3))] and the mixed-valence Ir(I)/Ir(III) complex [(P[OPh](3))(CO)Ir(mu-Pz)(2)Ir(H)(eta(1)-O(2)CCF(3))(CO)(P[OPh](3))].     

The trans-influence in polyenyl—metal complexes; The crystal and molecular structure of hydrido-(η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)-rhodium(III) hexafluorophosphate

The structure of [Rh(η-C₅Me₅)H(PPh₃)₂]PF₆ has been determined by ¹H NMR studies and a single-crystal X-ray analysis. The compound crystallises in the orthrhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with lattice constants a 12. 926(3), b 15.216-(3) and c = 20.957(4) Å, with Z = 4. The structure was determined using diffractometer data and by least-squares techniques to R = 0.0887 based on 2805 independent reflections with F₀?4o(F₀). The geometry about the metal atom may be inferred to be a “piano-stool” arrangement with the C₅Me₅ ring representing the seat and the PPh₃ and H ligands the legs, although the hydrogen atom was not directly located in the crystallographic analysis. The observed distortions in the C₅Me₅ ring may be attributed to the large trans-influence of the hydrido ligand.     

Oxidative addition of dialkylphosphites to complexes of iridium(I) and rhodium(I)

The PH bond of dialkylphosphites (dimethylphosphite, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxa-2-phosphorinane and 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxa-2-phospholane) oxidatively adds to irClL₂(L = PPh₃, AsPh₃) and IrCl(PMe₂Ph)₃ generated in situ to give six-coordinate hydrido(dialkylphosphonato)iridium(III) complexes, e.g. IrHClL₂[{(MeO)₂-PO}₂H] and IrHCl(PMe₂Ph)₃[PO(OMe)₂]. Addition of triphenylphosphine to a solution containing [IrCl(C₈H₁₄)₂]₂ and dimethylphosphite in a 1:2 mol ratio gives a five-coordinate hydrido (dimethylphosphonato)iridium(III) complex IrHCl(PPh₃)₂{PO(OMe)₂}, from which six-coordinate pyridine and acetylacetonato complexes IrHCl(PPh₃)₂(C₅H₅N){PO(OMe)₂} and IrH(PPh₃)₂(acac){PO(OMe)₂} can be obtained. The ligand arrangements in the various complexes are inferred from IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR data.     

Highly active iridium(I) complexes for catalytic hydrogen isotope exchange

Practically convenient methods have been developed for the preparation of new iridium complexes, possessing bulky N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine ligands; these routinely handled complexes are highly active catalysts within directed hydrogen isotope exchange processes.     

8-Oxyquinolate iridium(I) complexes and their oxidative-addition reactions

The novel sixteen-electron complex [Ir(Oq)(COD)] (Oq = 8-oxyquinolate; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) adds monodentate phosphines, phosphites or activated olefins irreversibly to give pentacoordinate iridium(I) complexes of the type [Ir(Oq)(COD)L] (L = PPh₃, P(OPh)₃, maleic anhydride or tetracyano-ethylene). Reaction of [Ir(Oq)(COD)] with some diphosphines leads to substitution products of the general formula [Ir(Oq)(diphos)] (diphos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane or cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene). Carbon monoxide displaces the COD group from the complexes giving either [Ir(Oq)(CO)₂] or [Ir(Oq)(CO)L], and the latter undergo oxidative addition reactions with SnCl₄, Me₃SiCl, Me₃SnCl, MeI, allylbromide, PhCOCl, MeCOCl, Cl₂, Br₂, TlCl₃ and HCl leading to novel iridium(III) complexes.     

Influence of halogen atoms on a homologous series of bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

A series of homologous bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes Ir(2,4-di-X-phenyl-pyridine)(2)(picolinate) (X = H, F, Cl, Br) HIrPic, FIrPic, ClIrPic, and BrIrPic has been synthesized and characterized by NMR, X-ray crystallography, UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The addition of halogen substituents results in the emission being localized on the main cyclometalated ligand. In addition, halogen substitution induces a blue shift of the emission maxima, especially in the case of the fluoro-based analogue but less pronounced for chlorine and bromine substituents. Supported by ground and excited state theoretical calculations, we rationalized this effect in a simple manner by taking into account the σp and σm Hammett constants on both the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels. Furthermore, in comparison with FIrPic and ClIrPic, the impact of the large bromine atom remarkably decreases the photoluminescence quantum yield of BrIrPic and switches the corresponding lifetime from mono to biexponential decay. We performed theoretical calculations based on linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (LR-TDDFT) including spin-orbit coupling (SOC), and unrestricted DFT (U-DFT) to obtain information about the absorption and emission processes and to gain insight into the reasons behind this remarkable change in photophysical properties along the homologous series of complexes. According to theoretical geometries for the lowest triplet state, the large halogen substituents contribute to sizable distortions of specific phenylpyridine ligands for ClIrPic and BrIrPic, which are likely to play a role in the emissive and nonradiative properties when coupled with the heavy-atom effect.