Preparation and interconversion of two isomeric iridium trihydrides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ic50218a039

The preparation, separation, and structural characterization of a,b,c-trihydrido-f-carbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)iridium(III) and a,b,f,-trihydrido-d-carbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)iridium(III) are described. The kinetics of interconversion of the two isomers and of the displacement of H₂ from both isomers by triphenylphosphine have been measured and indicate that interconversion occurs via reversible reductive elimination/oxidation sequence. Both the isomerization and substitution reactions are postulated to involve the intermediate IrH(CO)P₂. The relationship of the present results to other studies of the stereochemistry of oxidative additions to square-planar iridium(I) complexes is discussed.