IRIDIUM CHEMISTRY OF TERT-BUTYLPHOSPHINO)METHYL)-1,3,5-CYCLOHEPTATRIENE

The new pincer ligand (tert-butylphosphino)methyl)-1,35-cycloheptatrie ne is metalated by Ir(CO),Cl at the 7-position to give a pincer comple x. This complex when treated with LiBEt3H gives a mixture of products which result from the unusual migration of both an ethyl group and the replacement of the chlorine atom with a hydride. Individual component s of the mixture can be prepared separately by treatment of the pincer complex with NaH to give dehydrochlorination followed by a prototopic rearrangement and NaBEt4, which generates the corresponding ethyl der ivative.