Synthesis of A Pincer‐IrV Complex with A Base‐Free Alumanyl Ligand and Its Application toward the Dehydrogenation of Alkanes

A pincer‐iridium complex bearing a Lewis‐base‐free X‐type alumanyl ligand has been synthesized. X‐ray diffraction, NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as XANES analysis confirmed its tetrahydrido‐Ir^V structure and Lewis acidity at the Al center as supported by DFT calculations. The resulting complex was applied as a catalyst for the transfer dehydrogenation of cyclooctane.