OXIDATIVELY INDUCED METAL-CARBON BOND-CLEAVAGE REACTIONS IN IRIDIUM DIMETHYL COMPLEXES - FORMATION OF CATIONIC PYRIDINE AND NITROSYL IRIDIUM(III) ALKYL DERIVATIVES

Reaction of [Ir(Me)(2)Cp(L)] complexes (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5; L = PPh3, PMePh2, PMe2Ph, PMe3) with equimolar amounts of [Fe Cp-2](+) in pyrid ine gives methane and the corresponding cationic derivatives [Ir(Me)Cp (L) (pyridine)](+). Reaction with an excess of NOBF4 yields methane a nd [Ir(Me)Cp(L)(NO)](2+) (L=PMe3, PMe2Ph, PMePh2) or [Ir(Me)(2)Cp*(NO )](+) and [Ir(Me)Cp(L)(2)](+) (L = PPh3) via the formation of the pri mary oxidation products [Ir(Me)(2)Cp(L)](+), which have been detected by EPR spectroscopy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserv ed.