REACTIONS OF METHYL IRIDIUM COMPLEXES WITH H-2, CO OR O-2 IN H2O AND DMSO

New water soluble alkyl iridium(I) complexes were synthesized and thei r reaction with small molecules (H-2, CO and O-2) in DMSO or H2O exami ned. Hydrogenation of trans-Ir(CH3)(CO)(TPPMSK)(2) [TPPMSK = (P(C6H5)( 2)(m-C6H4SO3K))(2)] in DMSO produced CH4 and Ir(CO)(H)(TPPMSK)(3) as m ajor products. Carbonylation of trans-Ir(CH3)(CO)L-2 (L = TPPMSK or TP PMS [TPPMS = P(C6H5)(2)(m-C6H4SO3Na)]), in DMSO, produced Ir(C(O)CH3)( CO)(2)L-2. Reactions in water were complicated by rapid hydrolysis of the Ir-CH3 bond forming CH4 and trans-Ir(CO)(OH)L-2. The hydrolysis wa s inhibited by excess L allowing the reactions to be studied in water. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.