μ-1,4-Bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane-κ2 P:P′]bis{(4-benzyl-2-neopentyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylidene)[(1,2,5,6-η)-cycloocta-1,5-diene]iridium(I)} bis(tetrafluoroborate) dichloromethane disolvate

Abstract

The title compound, [Ir2(C14H19N3)2(C8H12)2(C28H28P2)](BF4)2·2CH2Cl2, has triclinic (P-1) symmetry and the dication lies about an inversion center located at the mid-point of the butane chain of the phosphine ligand. The IrI ion has a distorted square-planar coordination geometry. The N-heterocyclic carbene ligand has an extended S-shaped conformation. The diphosphine ligand acts as a bridge between the two metal centers. This is the first structural report of a complex where the square-planar iridium centers are bridged by a phosphine ligand, and it is of interest with respect to catalysis in transfer hydrogenation reactions. Parts of the triazole and cyclooctadiene ligands and the tetrafluoroborate anion are disordered over two sets of sites.