Thermal and photochemical carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions at iridium. .pi.-Coordination vs. C-H cleavage of ethene, styrene, and phenylacetylene

Abstract

[(triphos)Ir(H){sub 2}(C{sub 2}H{sub 5})] (1) is thermally activated toward ligand displacement yielding a reactive, 16 electron intermediate. Reactions of this intermediate with ethene, styrene, benzene, and phenylacetylene was investigated under purely thermolytic conditions and under the influence of photochemical activation. Potential reaction mechanisms for the thermal and photochemical reactions are presented.