The photodecomposition product μ-oxalato-1κ2O,O′:2κ2O′′,O′′′-bis{bis[2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl-κ2C,N]iridium(III)}–acetone (1/1.974)

Abstract

An attempt to grow crystals of [Ir(ppy)2(vacac)], (I), from an acetone-d6 solution formed instead crystals of [{Ir(ppy)2}2(μ-oxalato)] acetone solvate, (II), [Ir2(C11H8N)4(C2O4)]·1.974C3H6O, where ppy is the phenyl­pyridine anion and vacac is vin­ylacetyl­acetonate. Each IrIII ion in (II) is in a pseudo-octa­hedral coordination environment, where the pyridine N atoms are trans to each other and the phen­yl C atoms are trans to the O atoms of the oxalate bridging ligand. There are two crystallographically independent dimer molecules, each lying on an inversion centre. It is suggested that the oxalate ligand is formed in a series of steps initiated by the aldol condensation of acetone with vacac.