IRIDIUM(III) COMPLEXES OF ETA(6)-ARENES WITH OLEFINIC AND CYCLOPROPYLSUBSTITUENTS - FACILE CONVERSION TO ETA(3)-PHENYLALLYL COMPLEXES

Olefinic and cyclopropyl group substituted arenes (C6H5Y) react with [ CpIr(CH3COCH3)(3)]A(2) (A=ClO4-, OTf-) to give eta(6)-arene complexes , [CpIr(eta(6)-C6H5Y)](2+) (1a: Y=-CH=CH2 (a), -CH=CHCH3 (b), -C(CH3) =CH2 (c), -CH-CH2-CH2 (d)). Complex 1b-1d are readily converted into e ta(3)-allyl complexes, [Cp(CH3CN)Ir(eta(3)-CH(C6H5) CHCH2)](+) (2a) a nd [Cp(CH3CN)Ir(eta(3)-CH2C(C6H5)CH2)](+) (2b), in the presence of Na 2CO3 in CH3CN. The eta(6)-styrene complex, 1a reacts with NaBH4 to giv e eta(5)-cyclohexadienyl complex, [CpIr(eta(5)-C6H6-CH=CH2)](+) (3), while with H-2 it gives eta 6-ethylbenzene complex [CpIr(eta(6)-C6H5C H2CH3)](3+) (4). Complex 1a and 1c react with HCl to give [CpIr(eta(6 )-C6H5CH2CH2Cl)](2+) (5a) and [CpIr(eta(6)-C6H5CH(CH3)CH2Cl](2+) (5b) , respectively.