Synthesis of cationic iridium(I) complexes of water-soluble phosphine ligands, [Ir(CO)(TPPMS)(3)]CF3SO3, [Ir(CO)(H2O)(TPPTS)(2)]CF3SO3, and [Ir(CO)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]ClO4 (TPPMS=PPh2(m-C6H4SO3K), TPPTS=P(m-C6H4SO3Na)(3))

Several new water-soluble iridium(I) complexes were synthesized and their r eactivities with small molecules (H-2 or CO) in polar solvents (DMSO or H2O ) examined. Reaction of H-2 with [Ir(CO)(TPPMS)(3)]CF3SO3 (TPPMS = P(C6H5)( 2)(m-C6H4SO3K)) in DMSO or H2O produces [cis,mer-Ir(CO)(H)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]CF3 SO3, while the reaction of CO with [Ir(CO)(TPPMS)(3)]CF3SO3 in water yields [Ir(CO)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]CF3SO3. Carbonylation of [Ir(CO)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]ClO4 in DMSO produces [Ir(CO)(3)(TPPMS)(2)]ClO4 and TPPMS; no reaction is observed in H2O. Hydrogenation of [Ir(CO)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]ClO4 in DMSO or H2O yields [ cis,mer-Ir(CO)(H)(2)(TPPMS)(3)]ClO4, while reaction of H-2 with an aqueous solution of [Ir(CO)(H2O)(TPPTS)(2)]CF3SO3 produces [Ir(CO)(H2O)(H)(2)(TPPTS )(2)]CF3SO3. Reaction of trans-Ir(CO)ClL2 (L = TPPMS or TPPTS) with excess L in H2O produces [Ir(CO)L-3]Cl, while no reaction occurs in DMSO. [Ir(CO)( 3)(TPPMS)(2)]Cl reacts irreversibly with TPPMS in H2O to produce [Ir(CO)(2) (TPPMS)(3)]Cl.