Synthesis, properties and crystal structure of an octahedral iridium(III) complex with an arylnitrene inserted into an Ir-C bond

Abstract

[IrIII(O^N^C^O)(PPh3)2] reacts with p-nitro-phenylazide to give a unique arylimido-bridged iridium-O^N^C^O complex IrIII(O^N^C^O)(N-p-nitrophenyl)(PPh3). This complex has been isolated as pure crystalline solids in good yield and its structure has been fully established by an X-ray structure analysis. DFT calculations were also performed to gain insight into the electronic structure of this unique complex.