Rhodium and iridium complexes of a new ferrocene-derived chelating bis(NHC) ligand

Abstract

Rhodium and iridium complexes of a new ferrocene-derived bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand, [M(cod){1,2-(MeNCHCHNCCH₂)₂C₅H₃}Fe(C₅H₅)]BF₄ (M = Rh, 8a; M = Ir, 8b; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), were synthesized from the corresponding bis(imidazolium) salt 6. The molecular structure of 8a was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 8a and 8b smoothly react with CO with displacement of the chelating cod ligand to give the corresponding dicarbonyl derivatives 9a and 9b.