GENERATION OF HYDRIDO(SILYLENE)IRIDIUM(I) COMPLEX VIA [1,2]H SHIFT FROM THE SILICON ATOM TO THE IRIDIUM(I) METAL CENTER

Thermolysis of alkyl-hydrido complexes, L(n)Ir(R)(H) [L(n) = {MesHSi(C H2)(2)PPh(2)}(PMe(3))(2), R = Me, Et], caused the reductive eliminatio n of alkane to generate a 16e iridium(I) species L(n)Ir (A). Intermedi ate A underwent the intramolecular C-H bond activation. Reactivity of A with MeOH revealed that A underwent a [1,2] H shift from the silicon atom to the iridium center to give hydrido(silylene) complex Ir(H)(et a(2)-MesSi(CH2)(2)PPh(2)}(PMe(3))(2) (B) reversibly.