Ir Cl Research Articles

Cp*Ir complex bearing a flexible bridging and functional 2,2′-methylenebibenzimidazole ligand as an auto-tandem catalyst for the synthesis of N-methyl tertiary amines from imines via transfer hydrogenation/N-methylation with methanol

A Cp*Ir complex bearing a flexible bridging and functional 2,2′-methylenebibenzimidazole ligand was designed, synthesized, and found to be a general and efficient auto-tandem catalyst for the synthesis of N-methyl tertiary amines from imines via transfer hydrogenation/N-methylation with methanol as both hydrogen source and methylating reagent. In the presence of [Cp*Ir(2,2′-CH2BiBzImH2)Cl][Cl], a range of desirable products were obtained in high yields with nearly complete selectivities. The reaction is highly attractive due to the highly atom economy, and minimal consumption of chemicals and energy. Notably, this research exhibits new potential of metal–ligand bifunctional catalysts for the activation of methanol as C1 source for organic synthesis.

Structural and Electronic Effects of X-ray Irradiation on Prototypical [M(COD)Cl]2 Catalysts.

X-ray characterization techniques are invaluable for probing material characteristics and properties, and have been instrumental in discoveries across materials research. However, there is a current lack of understanding of how X-ray-induced effects manifest in small molecular crystals. This is of particular concern as new X-ray sources with ever-increasing brilliance are developed. In this paper, systematic studies of X-ray-matter interactions are reported on two industrially important catalysts, [Ir(COD)Cl]2 and [Rh(COD)Cl]2, exposed to radiation in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments. From these complementary techniques, changes to structure, chemical environments, and electronic structure are observed as a function of X-ray exposure, allowing comparisons of stability to be made between the two catalysts. Radiation dose is estimated using recent developments to the RADDOSE-3D software for small molecules and applied to powder XRD and XPS experiments. Further insights into the electronic structure of the catalysts and changes occurring as a result of the irradiation are drawn from density functional theory (DFT). The techniques combined here offer much needed insight into the X-ray-induced effects in transition-metal catalysts and, consequently, their intrinsic stabilities. There is enormous potential to extend the application of these methods to other small molecular systems of scientific or industrial relevance.

Recyclable Ir Nanoparticles for the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Carbonyl Compounds

The valorisation of biomass-derived platform chemicals via catalytic hydrogenation is an eco-friendly tool which allows us to recover bio-based building blocks and produce fine chemicals with high industrial appeal. In the present study, a novel surfactant-type triazolyl-thioether ligand was prepared, showing excellent catalytic activity in the presence of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)diiridium(I) dichloride [Ir(COD)Cl]2 for the hydrogenation of furfural, cinnamaldehyde, levulinic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, vanillin, and citral. Easy recovery by liquid/liquid extraction allowed us to recover the catalyst, which could then be efficiently recycled up to 11 times for the hydrogenation of furfural. In-depth analysis revealed the formation of spherical structures with metal nanoparticles as big as 2–6 nm surrounded by the anionic ligand, preventing iridium nanoparticle degradation.

Pseudo-Tris(heteroleptic) Red Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complexes Bearing a Dianionic C,N,C',N'-Tetradentate Ligand.

1-Phenyl-3-(1-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)isoquinoline (H2MeL) has been prepared by Pd(N-XantPhos)-catalyzed “deprotonative cross-coupling processes” to synthesize new phosphorescent red iridium(III) emitters (601–732 nm), including the carbonyl derivative Ir(κ4-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)Cl(CO) and the acetylacetonate compound Ir(κ4-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)(acac). The tetradentate 6e-donor ligand (6tt′) of these complexes is formed by two different bidentate units, namely, an orthometalated 2-phenylisoquinoline and an orthometalated 2-benzylpyridine. The link between the bidentate units reduces the number of possible stereoisomers of the structures [6tt′ + 3b] (3b = bidentate 3e-donor ligand), with respect to a [3b + 3b′ + 3b″] emitter containing three free bidentate units, and it permits a noticeable stereocontrol. Thus, the isomers fac-Ir(κ4-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ2-C,N-(C6H4-py)}, mer-Ir(κ4-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ2-C,N-(C6H3R-py)}, and mer-Ir(κ4-trans-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ2-C,N-(C6HR-py)} (R = H, Me) have also been selectively obtained. The new emitters display short lifetimes (0.7–4.6 μs) and quantum yields in a doped poly(methyl methacrylate) film at 5 wt % and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at room temperature between 0.08 and 0.58. The acetylacetonate complex Ir(κ4-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)(acac) has been used as a dopant for a red PhOLED device with an electroluminescence λmax of 672 nm and an external quantum efficiency of 3.4% at 10 mA/cm2.

Chiral Indolizidine Synthesis through the Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Cyclic Pyridinium Salts

The Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic pyridinium salts is presented as a new strategy for the convenient and efficient synthesis of chiral indolizidines. The asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic pyridinium salts derived from 2-(2-acylphenyl)pyridines proceeded smoothly in the presence of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 and (R)-DM-SegPhos to provide the desired chiral 7,8-benzoindolizidines 6 in high to excellent yields with moderate enantioselectivity (up to 86:14 er) and excellent diastereoselectivity (>20:1 dr). The enantiomeric purity of 6j was increased to 92:8 through recrystallization.

Organometallic complexes as preferred precursors to form molecular Ir(pyalk) coordination complexes for catalysis of oxygen evolution

Our previously reported ‘blue solution’ oxygen-evolution catalyst consists of an isomeric mixture of coordination complexes containing the (pyalk)IrIV–O–IrIV(pyalk) core unit and is thus entirely molecular but only when formed from organometallic precursors such as Cp*Ir(pyalk)Cl or Ir(pyalk)(CO)2 (pyalk = (2-pyridyl)-2-propanolate). We now show that attempts to form it from such obvious coordination precursors as Na[Ir(pyalk)Cl4] or Na[IrCl2(pyalk)(O2CPh)2], under a variety of conditions, always fail in our hands, leading to a mixture of molecular ‘blue solution’ species and IrOx nanoparticles, rather than the purely homogeneous catalyst formed from organometallic precursors. The loss of the pyalk ligand during the oxidative activation is associated with the nanoparticle generation. External chelating ligands also failed to stop the nanoparticle formation. This work implies the paradoxical conclusion that organometallic complexes are effective as catalyst precursors, even when coordination complexes are the catalytically active species, since the inner-sphere organometallic ligands, although ultimately lost or degraded, may nevertheless have a stabilizing effect sufficient to suppress undesirable nanoparticle production pathways in the activation of the catalyst precursor. A key aspect of the present study is that organometallic complexes in general may be useful catalyst precursors even if the organometallic ligands are lost in the activation process.

Iridium‐Catalyzed [4+3] Cyclization of ortho‐Tosylaminophenyl‐Substituted para‐Quinone Methides with Vinylic Oxiranes/Vinyl Aziridines

AbstractAn Iridium‐catalyzed [4+3] cyclization of ortho‐tosylaminophenyl‐substituted para‐quinone methides with vinylic oxiranes or vinyl aziridines has been successfully developed. In the presence of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 and a suitable base, this unprecedented cascade reaction occurs readily in good yield (up to 97%) and high diastereoselectivity (dr>20 : 1), providing a highly efficient synthetic approach to synthetically valuable seven‐membered heterocyclic frameworks.

Synthesis and Isolation of an Anionic Bis(dipyrido-annulated) N-Heterocyclic Carbene CCC-Pincer Iridium(III) Complex by Facile C-H Bond Activation.

Meridional tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based pincer ligands contribute to a substantial growth in modern organometallic chemistry in both homogeneous catalysis and luminescence materials. Among all NHC-based pincer ligands, the dianionic LX2-type CCC-pincer ones constitute the smallest subcategory owing to their limited ligand frameworks suitable for complexation. This work reports a one-pot, high-yield synthesis of a homoleptic anionic all-carbon bis-pincer iridium(III) complex (4) directly from a bis(aryl)-substituted dipyrido-annulated (dpaAr2) imidazolium salt and [Ir(COD)Cl]2 via a cascade of deprotonation/C-H activation processes. Both experimental complexation chemistry and computational mechanistic investigation suggest that the large bite angle and π-rich character of the dpaAr2 NHC are responsible for its facile complexation as a dianionic LX2-type CCC-pincer ligand precursor. The all-carbon ligated iridium(III) complex (4) bearing a π-conjugated ligand scaffold showed remarkably low oxidation potentials, which allows future investigations in its redox chemistry and photophysical properties.

A Proton-Responsive Pyridyl(benzamide)-Functionalized NHC Ligand on Ir Complex for Alkylation of Ketones and Secondary Alcohols.

A Cp*Ir(III) complex (1) of a newly designed ligand L1 featuring a proton-responsive pyridyl(benzamide) appended on N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been synthesized. The molecular structure of 1 reveals a dearomatized form of the ligand. The protonation of 1 with HBF4 in tetrahydrofuran gives the corresponding aromatized complex [Cp*Ir(L1 H)Cl]BF4 (2). Both compounds are characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. The protonation of 1 with acid is examined by 1 H NMR and UV-vis spectra. The proton-responsive character of 1 is exploited for catalyzing α-alkylation of ketones and β-alkylation of secondary alcohols using primary alcohols as alkylating agents through hydrogen-borrowing methodology. Compound 1 is an effective catalyst for these reactions and exhibits a superior activity in comparison to a structurally similar iridium complex [Cp*Ir(L2 )Cl]PF6 (3) lacking a proton-responsive pendant amide moiety. The catalytic alkylation is characterized by a wide substrate scope, low catalyst and base loadings, and a short reaction time. The catalytic efficacy of 1 is also demonstrated for the syntheses of quinoline and lactone derivatives via acceptorless dehydrogenation, and selective alkylation of two steroids, pregnenolone and testosterone. Detailed mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations substantiate the role of the proton-responsive ligand in the hydrogen-borrowing process.

Oxidative Coordination versus C3 -C(O)Me Bond Cleavage in Acetylacetonate Iridium Complexes.

Iridabicycles [Ir{κ3 -N,C,O-(pyC(H)=C(C(O)Me)2 }(Cl)(L-L)](L-L=cod (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), 1 a; bipy (bipy=2,2'-bipyridine), 1 b) have been obtained by oxidative coordination of 3-(pyridine-2-yl-methylene)pentane-2,4-dione L1, to the complexes [{Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)}2 ] and [{Ir(μ-Cl)(coe)2 }2 ] (coe=cis-cyclooctene), the latter in the presence of bipy. Remarkably, cleavage of the C3 -C(O)Me bond of L1 has instead been achieved in the reaction with [Ir(Cl)(dmb)2 ] (dmb=2,3-dimethylbutadiene), yielding a compound formulated as [Ir{κ2 -N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me))}(CO)(μ-Cl)(Me)]2 , 2. Treatment of dimer 2 with DMSO or PMe3 produced the complexes[Ir{κ2 -N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me)}(CO)Cl(Me)L] (L=DMSO, 3 a; PMe3 , 3 b). Plausible mechanisms for the reactions leading to complexes 1 and 2 are proposed by means of DFT calculations.

Efficient Iridium Catalysts for Formic Acid Dehydrogenation: Investigating the Electronic Effect on the Elementary β-Hydride Elimination and Hydrogen Formation Steps

We report herein a series of Cp*Ir complexes containing a rigid 8-aminoquinolinesulfonamide moiety as highly efficient catalysts for the dehydrogenation of formic acid (FA). The complex [Cp*Ir(L)Cl] (HL = N-(quinolin-8-yl)benzenesulfonamide) displayed a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 2.97 × 104 h-1 and a good stability (>100 h) at 60 °C. Comparative studies of [Cp*Ir(L)Cl] with the rigid ligand and [Cp*Ir(L')Cl] (HL' = N-propylpypridine-2-sulfonamide) without the rigid aminoquinoline moiety demonstrated that the 8-aminoquinoline moiety could dramatically enhance the stability of the catalyst. The electron-donating ability of the N,N'-chelating ligand was tuned by functionalizing the phenyl group of the L ligand with OMe, Cl, and CF3 to have a systematical perturbation of the electronic structure of [Cp*Ir(L)Cl]. Experimental kinetic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations on this series of Cp*Ir complexes revealed that (i) the electron-donating groups enhance the hydrogen formation step while slowing down the β-hydride elimination and (ii) the electron-withdrawing groups display the opposite effect on these reaction steps, which in turn leads to lower optimum pH for catalytic activity compared to the electron-donating groups.

Oxidative addition reactions of an iridium(I) complex containing phosphine-NHC

The phosphane functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand 3-[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]-1-ethylimidazol-2-ylidene was reacted with the [Ir(COD)Cl]2 metal precursor to give the homoleptic mononuclear cationic complex [Ir(NHC-PPh2)2][PF6] 2a in good yield. 2a undergoes oxidative addition and addition reactions with small molecules like H2, O2, S8, I2, CH3I and CO to afford the novel Ir(III) complexes [Ir(H)2(NHC-PPh2)2][PF6] 3a, [Ir(η2-O2)(NHC-PPh2)2][PF6] 4a, [Ir(η2-S2)(NHC-PPh2)2][PF6] 5a, [Ir(I)2(NHC-PPh2)2][I3] 6a, [Ir(CH3)(I)(NHC-PPh2)2][I] 7a, and [Ir(CO)(NHC-PPh2)2][PF6] 8a, respectively. All the new Ir(I) and Ir(III) complexes have been characterised by 31P, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray analysis.

The catalytic activity of new iridium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes for hydrogen transfer reaction of ketones

In this paper, the reaction of [Ir(COD)Cl]2 with in situ prepared Ag–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes yields a series of [IrCl(COD)(NHC)] complexes. All compounds were fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT–IR spectroscopy. The manuscript focused on the preparation of new Ir–NHC complexes, characterization and catalytic behavior. A series of hydrogenation transfer reactions were performed to reveal the effects of the Ir–NHC complexes. The new Ir–NHC complexes of benzimidazole-2-ylidene are effective catalysts for the transfer of hydrogenation of different ketones, using i-PrOH as the source of hydrogen in the presence of KOH. The reactions were conducted at a substrate/catalyst/base (S/C/base) molar ratio of 1:0.001:2. Although all of the complexes are active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones, moderate yields were obtained with acetylnaphthalene and conversion was not observed with very substituted ketones such as 2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentamethylacetophenone. It was observed that for transfer hydrogenation reactions Ir–NHC catalysts were more active, compared to Ru–NHC catalyzed studies performed by our team.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Nickel, Palladium, and Iridium Derived from Nitron: Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Properties

The mesoionic compound (1,4-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium-3-yl)phenylazanide, commonly referred to as Nitron, has been employed as a “crypto-NHC” to afford 1,2,4-triazolylidene compounds of nickel, palladium, and iridium. Specifically, Nitron reacts with NiBr2, PdCl2, and [Ir(COD)Cl]2 to afford the N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (NitronNHC)2NiBr2, (NitronNHC)2PdCl2, and (NitronNHC)Ir(COD)Cl, respectively. The lattermost compound reacts with (i) CO to afford the dicarbonyl compound (NitronNHC)Ir(CO)2Cl and (ii) CO, in the presence of PPh3, to afford the monocarbonyl compound (NitronNHC)Ir(PPh3)(CO)Cl. Structural studies on (NitronNHC)Ir(COD)Cl and (NitronNHC)Ir(CO)2Cl indicate that NitronNHC has a stronger trans influence than does Cl; furthermore, IR spectroscopic studies on (NitronNHC)Ir(CO)2Cl indicate that NitronNHC is electronically similar to the structurally related Enders carbene but is less electron donating than imidazol-2-ylidenes with aryl substituents. Significantly, the NitronNHC ligand affords catalytic systems, as illustrated by the ability of (NitronNHC)Ir(CO)2Cl to effect (i) the dehydrogenation of formic acid, (ii) aldehyde hydrosilylation, (iii) dehydrocoupling of hydrosilanes and alcohols, and (iv) ketone reduction via transfer hydrogenation.

Preparation and antitumor application of N-phenylcarbazole/triphenylamine-modified fluorescent half-sandwich iridium(III) Schiff base complexes.

Four N-phenylcarbazole/triphenylamine-appended half-sandwich iridium(III) salicylaldehyde Schiff base complexes ([(η5-Cpx)Ir(O^N)Cl]) were prepared and characterized. The complexes exhibited similar antitumor activity to cisplatin and effectively inhibited the migration of tumor cells. Furthermore, the complexes showed favourable hydrolytic activity, while remaining relatively stable in the plasma environment, which facilitated the binding of serum proteins and transport through them. These complexes could decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential, catalyze the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, induce an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and eventually result in apoptosis. Aided by their suitable fluorescence property, laser confocal detection showed that the complexes followed an energy-dependent mechanism for their cellular uptake, effectively accumulating in the lysosome and leading to lysosomal damage. In summary, the half-sandwich iridium(III) salicylaldehyde Schiff base complexes could induce lysosomal damage, increase intracellular ROS, and lead to apoptosis, which contributed to their antitumor mechanism of oxidation.

A highly active Cp*Ir complex with an anionic N,N-donor chelate ligand catalyzes the robust regeneration of NADH under physiological conditions

Anionic N,N-donor ligand chelate iridium complex [Cp*Ir(pba)Cl] 3 was developed, and exhibited the highest activity for NADH regeneration so far and stable chemoenzymatical coordinate catalytic performance for acetophenone enantioselective hydrogenation.

Regioselective B(3)-H bond activation based on an o-carboranyl dithiocarboxylate ligand and its derivatives.

Herein, we describe the synthesis of tetraphenylphosphonium o-carboranyl dithiocarboxylate (Ligand 1) and methyldithiocarboxyl-o-carborane (Ligand 2). The complexes [Cp*M(o-C2B10H11CS2)Cl] (M = Ir (3); Rh (4)) and [Cp*M(o-C2B10H11CS2)2] (M = Ir (5); Rh (6)) have been synthesized based on Ligand 1. The selective B-H bond activation of Ligand 2 has also been explored, leading to the synthesis of the B-H activated complex [Cp*Ir(o-C2B10H10CS2CH3)Cl] (7) and four of its substituted derivatives (8, 9, 10 and 11). All of these compounds have been characterised through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.

Understanding the Deactivation Pathways of Iridium(III) Pyridine-Carboxiamide Catalysts for Formic Acid Dehydrogenation.

The degradation pathways of highly active [Cp*Ir(κ2 -N,N-R-pica)Cl] catalysts (pica=picolinamidate; 1 R=H, 2 R=Me) for formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Under acidic conditions (1 equiv. of HNO3 ), 2 undergoes partial protonation of the amide moiety, inducing rapid κ2 -N,N to κ2 -N,O ligand isomerization. Consistently, DFT modeling on the simpler complex 1 showed that the κ2 -N,N key intermediate of FA dehydrogenation (INH ), bearing a N-protonated pica, can easily transform into the κ2 -N,O analogue (INH2 ; ΔG≠ ≈11 kcal mol-1 , ΔG ≈-5 kcal mol-1 ). Intramolecular hydrogen liberation from INH2 is predicted to be rather prohibitive (ΔG≠ ≈26 kcal mol-1 , ΔG≈23 kcal mol-1 ), indicating that FA dehydrogenation should involve mostly κ2 -N,N intermediates, at least at relatively high pH. Under FA dehydrogenation conditions, 2 was progressively consumed, and the vast majority of the Ir centers (58 %) were eventually found in the form of Cp*-complexes with a pyridine-amine ligand. This likely derived from hydrogenation of the pyridine-carboxiamide via a hemiaminal intermediate, which could also be detected. Clear evidence for ligand hydrogenation being the main degradation pathway also for 1 was obtained, as further confirmed by spectroscopic and catalytic tests on the independently synthesized degradation product 1 c. DFT calculations confirmed that this side reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically accessible.

Dehydrogenative Diboration of Alkynes Catalyzed by Ir/CO/tBuNC System

Catalytic dehydrogenative diboration (DHDB) of alkyne with HBpin was achieved using [Ir(COD)Cl]2 and other related Ir precursors under CO atmosphere. The selectivity for DHDB over hydroboration was higher in less polar solvents and under higher CO pressure. It was further improved when catalytic amount of tBuNC was added to the reaction. It was possible to achieve DHDB of both terminal and internal alkynes with selectivity for DHDB of up to 9:1 under the best conditions. Some DHDB products were isolated on the preparative scale.

Hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) as ligand for pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) rhodium and iridium complexes: Some surprising results, including an Ir3Na1O4 cubane structure

Attempts to prepare hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) piano stool complexes of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Cp* iridium and rhodium led to a surprising array of unexpected products. The desired complex, Cp*M(hfac)Cl, was obtained following the reaction of sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfacNa) with [Cp*MCl2]2 in dichloromethane. Variations of this synthetic method resulted in twelve unique crystallographically identified products, eleven of which contain the hfac ligand or a trifluoroacetylacetonate (TFA) ligand, either coordinated to the metal or as a non-coordinating anion. Five dinuclear Cp* iridium hydroxo-bridged products with various fluorinated non-coordinating anions were obtained. The most intriguing two complexes are trinuclear Cp*IrIII hydroxo-bridged clusters that have, at their core, an Ir3NaO4 cubane structure. Attempts to devise rational syntheses of the hydroxo-bridged cluster compounds were not successful. Generation of the TFA moieties likely occurred following degradation of Cp*Ir(hfac)Cl. The reaction between [Cp*MCl2]2 and 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonate (tfac) proceeded as expected to give Cp*M(tfac)Cl with no observed side product formation, indicating that the metal-coordinated tfac moiety is significantly more stable than the metal-coordinated hfac moiety.