Some chemistry of alkyl complexes of bis(1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)iridium(I)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00135a025

New five-coordinate Ir(I) alkyl complexes have been prepared by the addition of LiR (R = CH₃, C₅H₅) to [Ir(dppe)₂]Cl (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane). IrMe(dppe)₂ is found to be very reactive toward acid, forming cis-IrH(Me)(dppe)₂⁺, and toward CO and CO₂. In contrast, the cyclopentadienyl complex [Ir(dppe)₂]Cp is ionic and shows the reactivity of the Ir(dppe)₂⁺ cation. That this complex is ionic is apparently not a result of steric constraints. A X-ray structural study of IrMe(dppe)₂ indicates that the coordination geometry about the Ir center is that of a distorted trigonal bipyramid with the Me group in an axial position; Ir-Me = 2.189 (8) ?.