The isolation of intermediates in hydrogen halide additions to some iridium complexes

The complexes Ir(cod)L_n]PF₆(I, L = PPh₃, PMePh₂; n = 2. L = PMe₂Ph; n = 3) react with HX to give IrHX(cod)L₂]PF₆ (II, L = PMePh₂ or PMe₂Ph) or IrHX₂(cod)(PPh₃)] (III). The intermediates IrX(cod)L₂] have, in two cases (L = PMePh₂, X = I, Br), been directly isolated from the reaction mixtures at 0°C, and are also formed from I with KX (L = PPh₃, X = Cl; L = PMePh₂, X = Cl, Br, I); these intermediates protonate to give II (L = PMePh₂), or an equimolar mixture of III and I (L = PPh₃, X = Cl). Surprisingly, I₂ reacts with I in MeOH to give III (L = PPh₃). The stereochemistries of II and III were determined by < ¹H NMR and especially by new methods using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The complexes I exhibit a Lewis acid reactivity pattern.