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.