Formal oxidative addition of a C–H bond by a 16e iridium(i) complex involves metal–ligand cooperation

Abstract

The first example of oxidative addition of a C–H bond to a square planar d8-Iridium complex, without any external additive, such as an acid, is described. Our mechanistic investigations show that metal–ligand cooperation through aromatization–dearomatization of the lutidine backbone is involved in this process, and that the actual C–H activation step occurs through an Ir(III) intermediate.