Protonation and Hydrogenation Experiments with Iridium(0) and Iridium(−1) tropp Complexes: Formation of Hydrides

The reactions of three different tetracoordinated Ir complexes, Ir(tropp^ph)₂]ⁿ (n=+1, 0, −1), which differ in the formal oxidation state of the metal from +1 to −1, with proton sources and dihydrogen were investigated (tropp=5‐(diphenylphosphanyl)dibenzoa,d]cycloheptene). It was found that the cationic 16‐electron complex Ir(tropp^ph)₂]⁺ ( 2 ) cannot be protonated but reacts with NaBH₄ to the very stable 18‐electron Ir^I hydride IrH(tropp^ph)₂] ( 5 ), which is further protonated with medium strong acids to give the 18‐electron Ir^III dihydride IrH₂(tropp^ph)₂]⁺ ( 6 ; pK_s in CH₂Cl₂/THF/H₂O 1 : 1 : 2 ca. 2.2). Both, the neutral 17‐electron Ir⁰ complex Ir(tropp^ph)₂] ( 3 ) and the anionic 18‐electron complex Ir(tropp^ph)₂]⁻ ( 4 ) react rapidly with H₂O to give the monohydride 5 . In reactions of 3 with H₂O, the terminal Ir^I hydroxide Ir(OH)(tropp^ph)₂] ( 8 ) is formed in equal amounts. All these complexes, apart from 5 , which is inert, do react rapidly with dihydrogen. The complex 2 gives the dihydride 6 in an oxidative addition reaction, while 3 , 4 , and 8 give the monohydride 5 . Interestingly, a salt‐type hydride (i.e., LiH) is formed as further product in the unexpected reaction with Li(thf)_x]⁺Ir(tropp^ph)₂]⁻ ( 4 ). Because 3 undergoes disproportionation into 2 and 4 according to 2 3 ⇄ 2 + 4 (K_disp=2.7⋅10⁻⁵), it is likely that actually the diamagnetic species and not the odd‐electron complex 3 is involved in the reactions studied here, and possible mechanisms for these are discussed.