Chemistry Letters, Vol.30, No.4, 300-301, 2001
Acetonitrile accelerated stereoselective C-H bond activation of the cationic Ir(I) complex having the PN/CH3 heterochelate hybrid ligand
The cationic iridium(I) complex having a heterochelate ligand, [Ir(cod)(PN/CH3)]PF6 {PN/CH3 = o-Ph2PC6H4CH(CH3)OCH2(C5H4N-2)} (3) was prepared and characterized. Complex 3 underwent stereoselective facile activation of the benzylic C-H bond in CH3CN at 50 degreesC to produce the oxidative addition product. a hydride alkyl complex fac-4 after displacement of COD by 2 molecules of CH3CN. The initially generated fac-4 isomerized gradually to give the geometrical isomer selectively mer-4 in CH3CN.