Novel routes to alkynyl and vinylidene iridium complexes. The first example of:CCH2 ligand transfer from a 4d to a 5d transition metal atom

Abstract

Square-planar vinylidene iridium(I) complexes trans-[IrCl(CCHR)(PPrⁱ₃)₂](R = H, Me, Ph, SiMe₃, CO₂Me) are prepared from IrH₂Cl(PPrⁱ₃)₂ and alk-1-ynes HC₂R, via IrH(C₂R)Cl(PPrⁱ₃)₂ as intermediates; the parent member of the series with R = H has also been obtained from C₅H₅Rh(CCH₂) PPrⁱ₃ and IrCl(PPrⁱ₃)₂, i.e. by transfer of a :CCH₂ ligand from a 4d to a 5d transition metal atom.