Reactivity of IrCl(PPh3)3 with diphenylacetylene — A direct route to 1-iridaindene

Abstract

The 1-iridaindene complex, Ir[C8H5(Ph-2)]Cl(PPh3)2 (2), has been prepared from the reaction of IrCl(PPh3)3 with PhC≡CPh by a novel direct cycloiridation reaction. A plausible mechanistic pathway has been suggested involving π-coordination assisted ortho- C–H activation and subsequent alkyne hydroiridation reaction to provide the five-member iridacycle.Key words: iridium, diphenylacetylene, C–H activation, cyclometallation, metallacycle.