Organic Chemistry at an Iridium Center: Unusual Bond-Making and Bond-Breaking Reactions

Abstract

<p> In examining the utilization of transition metals in synthetic organic chemistry, iridium is not a metal which comes to the fore. In fact, while its family member, rhodium, sees extensive use for organic synthesis, iridium is pretty much ignored. However, there are quite a number of unusual bond-making and bond-breaking reactions that can occur at an iridium center that suggest that iridium be given a closer look. </p> <p> In this article, the organometallic chemistry of iridium will be reviewed with special attention paid to unusual transformations of organic groups that are attached to the metal. These include, C-H cleavage, C-C cleavage, as well as quite a number of other bond cleavage reactions such as 8-H, N-H, and O H. The chemistry of iridium with various heterocycles containing 0, N and S will also be discussed, especially the chemistry that has relevance to hydrodesulfurization chemistry. </p> <p> Beyond bond-breaking reactions, iridium is quite adept at facilitating quite a number of unusual bond-making reactions. The ability of iridium complexes for H-C, 8-C, C-C, and N-C bond-making chemistry will be covered. </p>