Germyl and silyl complexes of iridium. The reactions of bis(trimethylgermyl)- and bis(trimethylsilyl)-mercury with trans-chloro(carbonyl)bis-(triethylphosphine)iridium(I)
Abstract
The complexes Ir(HgMMe3)(MMe3)2(Et3P)2(CO)(I; M = Si, Ge) have been prepared by the reaction of Hg(MMe3)2 with Ir(Et3P)2(CO)Cl. The Hg–Ge bond in (I; M = Ge) is readily cleaved by anhydrous HCl to give Ir(HgCl)(MMe3)2(Et3P)2(CO), hydrogen, and GeMe3Cl. Similarly ethylene dibromide gives Ir(HgBr)(MMe3)2(Et3P)2(CO), C2H4, and GeMe3Br. Prolonged reaction of (I; M = Ge), with HCl gives Ir(Et3P)2Cl2H(CO), hydrogen, and mercury; whilst the ultimate product of reaction with ethylene dibromide is Ir(HgBr)Br2(Et3P)2CO, together with C2H4 and GeMe3Br. The 1H n.m.r. spectra of the complexes are discussed.