The cyclooctadiene ligand in [IrCl(COD)]2is hydrogenated under transfer hydrogenation conditions: A study in the presence of PPh3and a strong base in isopropanol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2016.10.009

The interaction of [IrCl(COD)]₂with PPh₃in isopropanol has been investigated for various P/Ir ratios, in the absence or presence of a strong base (KOtBu), at room temperature and at reflux. At room temperature, PPh₃adds to

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2016.10.009

Accepted Manuscript
The cyclooctadiene ligand in [IrCl(COD)] is hydrogenated under transfer
2
hydrogenation conditions: A study in the presence of PPh and a strong base in
3
isopropanol
S.M.Wahidur Rahaman, Jean-Claude Daran, Eric Manoury, Rinaldo Poli
PII:
S0022-328X(16)30447-8
10.1016/j.jorganchem.2016.10.009
JOM 19653
DOI:
Reference:
To appear in: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
Received Date: 31 August 2016
Revised Date: 2 October 2016
Accepted Date: 4 October 2016
Please cite this article as: S.M.W. Rahaman, J.-C. Daran, E. Manoury, R. Poli, The cyclooctadiene
ligand in [IrCl(COD)] is hydrogenated under transfer hydrogenation conditions: A study in the presence
2
of PPh and a strong base in isopropanol, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry (2016), doi: 10.1016/
3
j.jorganchem.2016.10.009.
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Table of Content Figure

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The cyclooctadiene ligand in [IrCl(COD)]2 is hydrogenated under transfer
hydrogenation conditions: a study in the presence of PPh3 and a strong base in
isopropanol
S. M. Wahidur Rahaman,a,b Jean-Claude Daran,a,b Eric Manourya,b and Rinaldo Poli,*a,b,c
aCNRS, LCC (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination), Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, 205
route de Narbonne, BP 44099, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France CNRS. Fax: +33-561553003;
Tel: +33-561333174; E-mail:rinaldo.poli@lcc-toulouse.fr.
b Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
c Institut Universitaire de France, 1, rue Descartes, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Abstract
The interaction of [IrCl(COD)]2 with PPh3 in isopropanol has been investigated for various P/Ir
ratios, in the absence or presence of a strong base (KOtBu), at room temperature and at reflux. At
room temperature, PPh3 adds to the metal center to yield [IrCl(COD)(PPh3)] and additional PPh3
only undergoes rapid degenerative ligand exchange. Subsequent addition of KOtBu affords
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] as the main compound, even for high P/Ir ratios, although very minor amounts
of products having a “HIr(PPh3)3” core are also generated. Warming to the solvent reflux
temperature results in a rapid (< 1 h) and quantitative COD removal from the system as
hydrogenated products (54.4% of cyclooctene plus 32.2% of cyclooctane according to a
quantitative GC analysis) and in the eventual generation of [IrH3(PPh3)3]. The latter is observed as
a mixture of the fac and mer isomers in solvent-dependent proportions. Other minor products, one
of which is suggested to be mer-cis-[IrH2(OiPr)(PPh3)3] by the NMR characterization, are also
generated. These results show that, contrary to certain previously published assumptions, systems

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of this kind are unlikely to function via a COD-containing active species in transfer hydrogenation
catalyses conducted in hot isopropanol in the presence of a strong base.
Keywords: Iridium, pre-catalyst activation, transfer hydrogenation, cyclooctadiene,
triphenylphosphine, hydride ligands.
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1. Introduction
Transfer hydrogenation is a catalyzed process that allows unsaturated compounds such as
aldehydes, ketones and imines to be reduced by a hydrogen donor DH2, which is transformed to a
by-product D, typically isopropanol giving acetone or formic acid giving CO2 [1-7]. Hence, it
performs the same transformations as hydrogenation but, relative to the latter, presents the main
advantage of removing the hazards associated to the use of the gaseous and flammable H2.
However, because of the smaller thermodynamic driving force relative to hydrogenation, harsher
conditions - namely higher temperatures - are generally required. Catalysts used to accelerate this
reaction span from Lewis acids, which operate through the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley
mechanism, to unsaturated transition metal hydrides that are able to promote a
coordination/insertion mechanism, to transition metal complexes with π-loaded ligands such as
amido functions able to operate via an outer-sphere (the so-called Noyori-Morris) mechanism [8,
9]. Many transition metal complexes are able to promote both hydrogenation and transfer
hydrogenation and a strong base is generally required in both cases to achieve high activity.
Rhodium and iridium complexes obtained from [MX(COD)]2 (M = Rh, Ir; X = Cl, OMe) in the
presence of various ligands have received considerable attention as pre-catalysts for transfer
hydrogenation [10-54]. The nature of the active species and the mechanism have been discussed in
several experimental and computational contributions [14, 40, 55-62]. It seems that a different
mechanism may be adopted depending on the nature of the metal and of the supporting ligand. For
instance, working with a computational model of the [RhCl(COD)]2/chiral diamine precatalysts
used in the Lemaire group, Delbecq et al. find that only the outer sphere mechanism is able to
account for the observed enantioselectivity of the reaction [57, 58]. Oro et al., on the other hand,
conclude that systems generated from [Ir(µ-OMe)(diene)]/PR3 function through
coordination/insertion mechanism [60].
a
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One crucial question is whether the diene ligand in the precatalyst remains coordinated to the
metal in the catalytically active species or whether it is displaced, either as such or in a
hydrogenated form. It seems clear that COD is removed under hydrogenation conditions (i.e.
under H2), but whether this occurs under transfer hydrogenation conditions (particularly in warm
isopropanol) does not bring consensus. It has been shown that certain systems differing only by
the nature of the diene have different activity. For instance, Lemaire et al. have shown that the
activity trend at room temperature of the [RhCl(diene)]2/diamine/KOtBu/iPrOH system as the
diene is changed goes as COD > norbonadiene > hexadiene > (ethylene)2 [55]. Similarly, the
iridium system [IrCl(diene)]2/aminosulfide/HCOOH/NEt3 has shown activities in the order COD
>> (COE)2 at 60°C. These observation have led the authors to propose that the diene or alkene
remains metal bonded in the active species [18]. On the basis of these reports, the above-
mentioned computational investigations on Rh- and Ir-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation cycles
were carried out on COD-containing systems, or models thereof [55-60].
However, evidence for COD release from iridium complexes under transfer hydrogenation
conditions has been gathered since quite some time ago. Kvintovics et al. have shown that, in the
presence of
2
equivalents of the chelating diphosphinite (2R,4R)-2,4-bis(diphenyl-
phosphinoxy)pentane (BDPOP) and 10 equivalents of NaOMe, complex [IrCl(COD)]2 loses COD
within 60 min in isopropanol at room temperature to yield cyclooctene as the only detected
product (no free COD and no cyclooctane) [13]. Spogliarich et al. have reported that the activation
of [Ir(COD)P2]+ (P2 = chiral diphosphine: chiraphos, prophos or diop) in refluxing iPrOH yields
COD-free compounds with brigding hydrides [63], analogous to the [Ir2(µ-H)3H2L4]+ complexes
previously reported by Crabtree et al. [64], even without adding a strong base to the system. In a
much more recent contribution, Jiménez et al. have shown that, in isopropanol at 80°C and in the
presence of KOH, the transfer hydrogenation catalytic activity of [Ir(COD){κC-Me(o-
pyCH2)Im}2]+ is identical to that of separately synthesized [IrH2{κC,κN-Me(o-pyCH2)Im}2]+
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where COD is not present, while a GC/MS analysis during catalysis with the COD derivative
shows the presence of cyclooctene [61]. Finally, Oro et al. have recently show that addition of
-
sodium isopropoxide to [(COD)Ir{κ3PCP-1,3-(Ph2PCH2CH2)-2-CH2Im}]+PF6 affords free COD
upon heaying to 80°C [65]. It should also be underlined that certain Rh and Ir complexes are
known to be active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation from alcohols to olefins [66-70].
In this contribution, we report our investigations of the reaction between [IrCl(COD)]2 and PPh3
under a variety of conditions, including those typical of catalytic transfer hydrogenation. Indeed,
in work by the Oro’s group, complex [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2], which is accessible directly from
[IrCl(COD)]2 and PPh3 in the presence of base, was proven an efficient precatalyst for the transfer
hydrogenation of cyclohexanone (62% conversion in 24 h in isopropanol at 60°C with a 1%
catalys loading) [71]. However, a detailed investigation of the high-temperature activation has not
been previously reported for this system to the best of our knowledge. We will show here that the
COD ligand is hydrogenated and removed from the metal upon warming. Our investigation has
retraced a few already well established transformations, but has also brought to the surface a few
unexpected and surprising results.
2. Experimental
2.1. General
All reactions were carried out under an argon atmosphere using standard Schlenk techniques.
Isopropanol was carefully dried by distillation on calcium hydride and kept over 4Å molecular
sieves under argon before use. All commercially available chemicals ([IrCl(COD)]2, 99%, Strem
1
Chemicals; PPh3, 99%, Aldrich; NaOMe, 99%, Aldrich) were used as received. H and 13C{1H}
NMR spectra were recorded with Bruker Avance 400, Bruker Avance III 400 and Bruker Avance
500 FT-NMR spectrometers. The resonances were calibrated relative to the residual solvent peaks
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and are reported with positive values downfield from TMS. For all characterized compounds, the
1
13
peak assignments in the H and C NMR spectra were based on COSY, HSQC and HMBC 2D
experiments. Gas chromatographic analyses were carried out with a Supelco SPB-20 column
(40°C for 10 minutes then heating 3°C/min up to new isotherm at 120°C): cycloctene (11.6 min);
cyclooctane (13.1 min); cyclooctadiene (13.6 min).
2.2. Reaction of [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2 and PPh3 in isopropanol in the presence of KOtBu at
room temperature: generation of [Ir(COD)H(PPh3)2]
PPh3 (78 mg, 0.297 mmol) was added to an isopropanol solution (10 mL) of [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2
(50 mg, 0.074 mmol) and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Potassium tert-
butoxide (83 mg, 0.74 mmol) was then added to the mixture and stirred at room temperature for 5
minutes. The white precipitate was removed by Schlenk filtration and the filtrate was concentrated
1
under reduced pressure. Yield: 96 mg (78%). H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.79-7.10 (m, 30H,
Ph), 3.81 (br, 2H, COD), 3.47 (br, 2H, COD), 1.83 (br, 4H, COD), 1.54 (br, 4H, COD), -13.77 (t,
1H, Ir-H, JPH = 22 Hz). 31P {1H} NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.5. 13C NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ
139.7 (Ph-ipso, m with virtual coupling), 133.4 (Ph-ortho, virtual t, JPC = 5.8 Hz), 128.1 (Ph-para,
s), 127.3 (Ph-meta, virtual t, JPC = 4.4 Hz), 79.3 (CH COD, s), 47.7 (CH COD, m with virtual
coupling), 34.7 (CH2 COD, s), 31.4 (CH2 COD, s).
2.3. Reaction of [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2 and PPh3 in isopropanol in the presence of KOtBu at
the reflux temperature: generation of fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3]
PPh3 (72 mg, 0.274 mmol) was added to an isopropanol solution (10 mL) of [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2
(30 mg, 0.045 mmol) and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Potassium tert-
butoxide (50 mg, 0.446 mmol) was added to the mixture and refluxed for 3 hours, with NMR
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monitoring (see Results and Discussion). The yellow solution became colorless with generation of
a white solid. The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness under
1
reduced pressure. Yield: 70 mg (80%, based on iridium). H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.64-
6.82 (m, 45H, Ph), -12.25 (AA'A''XX'X'', 3H). 31P {1H} NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 9.3 (s).
Colorless crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction were obtained as a CDCl3 solvate from the NMR
solution upon standing.
In a separate experiment, the same procedure was repeated using [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2 (80 mg,
0.119 mmol), PPh3 (124 mg, 0.473 mmol), KOtBu (132 mg, 1.18 mmol) and mesilylene (10 mg)
as an internal standard in 7 mL of iPrOH. After 3 h of heating at 85°C, gas-chromatographic
analysis of the solution revealed the generation of cyclooctene (54.4 %) and cyclooctane (32.2 %),
while a peak at the elution time expected for cyclooctadiene was not observed.
2.4. X-ray structural analysis.
A single crystal of fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3]ꢀCDCl3 was mounted under inert perfluoropolyether at the
tip of glass fiber and cooled in the cryostream of a Bruker APEXII diffractometer fitted with a Mo
microfocus source. The structure was solved by direct methods (SHELXt) [72] and refined by
least-squares procedures on F2 using SHELXL-97 [73]. All H atoms attached to carbon were
introduced in calculation in idealised positions and treated as riding models. The Ir atom as well as
the C atom of the chloroform solvate are located on a 3-fold axis and then only a third of the
whole molecule defines the asymmetric unit. The search for the H hydride in the region where it
could be expected gave one peak which could be attributed to the hydride. This H was freely
refined isotropically and gave satisfactory results. The drawing of the molecules was realised with
the help of ORTEP32 [74, 75]. Crystal data and refinement parameters are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Crystal data and structure refinement for fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3]
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Identification code
Empirical formula
Formula weight
Temperature, K
Wavelength, Å
Crystal system
Space group
a, Å
[IrH3(PPh3)3]
C54 H48 Ir P3, CH Cl3
1101.40
173(2)
0.71073
Trigonal
R 3 c
12.7235(8)
51.890(3)
90.0
c, Å
α, °
β, °
90.0
γ, °
120.0
3
7274.9(10)
6
Volume, Å
Z
Density (calc), Mg/m3
Abs. coefficient, mm-1
F(000)
1.507
3.054
3306
Crystal size, mm3
Theta range, °
0.270 x 0.240 x 0.100
2.43 to 36.30
158090
Reflections collected
Indpt reflections (Rint)
Completeness, %
Absorption correction
Max. / min. transmission
Refinement method
Data /restraints/parameters
Goodness-of-fit on F2
R1, wR2 [I>2σ(I)]
R1, wR2 (all data)
Flack’s parameter
Residual density, e.Å-3
7821 (0.0391)
99.9
Multi-scan
0.748 / 0.618
2
F
7821 / 1 / 190
1.18
0.0200, 0.0399
0.0292, 0.0434
0.000(2)
0.912 / -0.435
3. Results and discussion
The interaction between [IrCl(COD)]2 and PPh3, at various P/Ir ratios, in isopropanol solution
was investigated sequentially under three different conditions. First, the phosphine ligand was
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added to the complex at room temperature in the absence of a base. Then, a strong base was added
at room temperature. Finally, the resulting solution was warmed up to the reflux temperature.
The addition of phosphines to [IrCl(COD)]2 is a well known process, leading to different
products depending on stoichiometry, solvent and ligand denticity (monodentate L, bidentate L2):
neutral 4-coordinate [IrCl(COD)L], neutral 5-coordinate [IrCl(COD)L2], ionic [Ir(COD)L2]+Cl- or
[Ir(COD)L2]+[IrCl2(COD)]-. Addition of 1 equiv of PPh3 per Ir atom yields a solution of
1
[IrCl(COD)(PPh3)], as previously described [76]. We have only been able to find H NMR
characterization for this compound in the literature [77, 78]. We observe the phosphine resonance
31
in the P {1H} NMR spectrum at δ 21.7. When the amount of PPh3 was raised to 2 equiv per Ir,
only one broad resonance was observed at an average position between those of
[IrCl(COD)(PPh3)] and free PPh3, indicating rapid self-exchange between free and coordinated
ligand (equation 1, Figure 1). This shows that the formation of a 5-coordinate bis-
triphenylphosphine adduct is not favorable.
[IrCl(COD)(PPh3)] + PPh3
PPh3 + [IrCl(COD)(PPh3)]
(1)
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*
(b)
(a)
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
δ/ppm
Figure 1. 31P{1H} NMR spectra of the [IrCl(COD)]2 + PPh3 reaction in isopropanol (aliquot
evaporated to dryness and residue redissolved in CDCl3). (a) P/Ir ratio = 1. (b) P/Ir ratio = 2. The
starred resonance (δ 29.3) is due to a small amount of Ph3PO impurity.
Subsequent addition of a strong base (NaOMe or KOtBu) to the solution having a P/Ir ratio of 2
led to the generation of the known [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] [79-81]. This compound was also
previously obtained from [Ir(OMe)(COD)]2 and PPh3, or from [Ir(COD)(PPh3)2]+ and
KOH/MeOH, or from [IrCl(COD)]2/PPh3/KOH/MeOH [71], all of these procedures generating the
hydride by β-H elimination from the methoxide ligand in the putative [Ir(OMe)(COD)(PPh3)2]
intermediate. In the present case, even though tBuO- has no available β-H, it can abstract a proton
from the isopropanol solvent and lead to an isopropoxide intermediate than can β-H eliminate an
acetone molecule. Replacement of chloride with hydride in the coordination sphere allows
coordination of a second PPh3 ligand (equation 2).
[IrCl(COD)(PPh3)] + PPh3 + Me2CHO-
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] + Me2C=O + Cl-
(2)
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The NMR (1H, 31P) properties of the product of equation 2 (1H triplet at δ -13.77 with JHP
=
21.9 Hz, collapsing to a singlet upon broadband P decoupling; 31P{1H} singlet at δ 7.5, see Figure
1S) match those previously reported for [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] [71, 82]. The 13C NMR spectrum
appears to be reported here for the first time. All phenyl groups are equivalent on the NMR
timescale. The CH and CH2 groups of the COD ligand give two resonances each, consistent with
mirror symmetry. Their assignment was confirmed by a DEPT135 13C NMR experiment (see
Figure 2). The structure of this compound has not been elucidated, but it can reasonably be
assumed identical to those of the structurally characterized analogues with the bidentate
diphosphines L2 = N(sec-Bu)(CH2CH2PPh2)2 [83] and HC(o-anisyl)(o-C6H4PiPr2)2 [84], namely
trigonal bipyramidal with the H ligand and one of the two COD double bonds placed in the axial
position, thus rendering the two P atoms equivalent and the two COD double bonds inequivalent,
in agreement with the NMR evidence. A particular feature of this spectrum is that the resonances
of the phenyl ipso, ortho and meta atoms, as well as that of the COD equatorial C atoms, which
show coupling to the P nuclei, are virtual triplets rather than doublets, consistent with a strong
homonuclear P-P coupling (see excerpts in Figure 2).
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Figure 2. 13C{1H} and DEPT135 NMR spectra of [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2], with expanded excerpts for
the C atoms exhibiting virtual coupling to the two P atoms.
The reaction yielding [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] (equation 2) also yields a minor by-product
31
characterized by a 1H quartet resonance at δ -10.73 (JHP = 21.8 Hz) and a P resonance at δ 14.3
(see Figure 1S). Mutual coupling of these two resonances was confirmed by a H-P HMQC NMR
experiment. This pattern is consistent with the presence of only one type of hydride and three
equivalent PPh3 ligands. The simplest possibility is [IrH(PPh3)3], analogous to the Rh complex
known as Wilkinson’s catalyst, which has apparently never been described. This product could
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result from the replacement of COD by a third PPh3 equivalent. Having a 16-electron
configuration, this compound would be expected to adopt a square planar geometry with
inequivalent cis and trans phosphine ligand, but an average spectrum could result from hydride
positional scrambling in the fast kinetic regime. On the other hand, an isomeric ortho-metallated
complex, [IrH2(PPh3)2(κ2:C,P-2-C6H4PPh2)], has been reported [85] and could also be consistent
1
with the observed spectrum under the hypothesis of fluxional behavior, but the H NMR
properties reported for that compound (quartet at δ -7.7 with JPH = 15 Hz) are different than those
observed here.
When the experiment was repeated with a P/Ir ratio of 10, the major Ir product was still
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] and the above described by-product remained visible at low intensity (see
Figure 2S), but an additional by-product (also very minor) also appeared. This is characterized by
a 1H hydride resonance at δ -11.64, characteristic of coupling with one trans P atom (large doublet
coupling of ca. 280 Hz) and two cis P atoms (smaller triplet coupling of ca. 20 Hz). This pattern is
also indicative of a [IrH(PPh3)3] stoichiometry, though this time not fluxional, compatible with an
octahedral IrIII product having two additional X-type ligands. Efforts at further elucidating the
nature of this product were not made. The 31P{1H} NMR spectrum confirmed the presence of
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] as the major product and of the minor δ 14.3 by-product (Figure 2S), while the
excess free PPh3 gave a broad resonance centered at ca. δ -3, showing dynamic exchange with one
1
of the minor by-products. The H spectrum of this mixture recorded in THF-d8 solution showed
the same products in the same relative proportion.
Warming the solution obtained as in equation 2 to the reflux temperature intially leads to the
rapid disappearance of the [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] complex. It is still the main compound after 10 min
but it is completely consumed after 1 h. Several products are initially generated, as shown by 1H
(hydride region) and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy (Figure 3), but continued reflux led to the
decrease of the unknown intermediates and the accumulation of three products I, II and III, of
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which I is dominant (relative ratio = ca. 81:4:15 according to the hydride resonances integration)
when the spectrum is recorded in CDCl3. However, the spectrum of the same product mixture
recorded in THF-d8 shows compounds I and II in approximately equimolar amounts (ca. 47:53),
while III was absent and other minor inidentified products are present (Figure 3S). Products I and
II have been identified respectively as fac- and mer-[IrH3(PPh3)3]. Curiously, whereas both
complexes have been known since the early 60’s [86-91] and reported several times, including in
more recent contributions [92-94], their NMR spectral properties have not been thoroughly
described. The fac isomer is characterized by a complex 6-line pattern centered at δ -12.2 in the 1H
NMR spectrum for the AA’A”XX’X” system. This feature has been well described and simulated
31
in a previous contribution [93]. However, we find that the P resonance is located at δ 9.3 (see
1
Figure 3) and not at the previously reported value of 30.05 [93], as confirmed by the H-31P
HMQC (Figure 4S in CDCl3 and Figure 5S in THF-d8).
14

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1
Figure 3. Monitoring by H NMR in the hydride region (a) and 31P{1H} (b) of the reaction
between [IrCl(COD)]2, PPh3 (4 equiv) and excess NaOMe in boiling iPrOH. The spectra were
taken from dried aliquots redissolved in CDCl3. The starred resonance is assigned to the Ph3PO
impurity.
31
For the mer isomer, the P properties have apparently never been reported and only a variable
temperature 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3 has been previously described [85]. The better resolved
1H NMR spectrum in THF-d8 solution, in which the relative proportion of this isomer is
significant, reveals the expected pattern of an A2BX2Y spin system (A,B = H; X,Y = P) for the
hydride resonances: δA -10.86 (2H, broad quartet, JHP = 16 Hz, due to degeneracy of the couplings
to the 2PX and 1PY nuclei) and δB -12.30 (1H, broad dt, JHPY = 116 Hz; JHPX = 21 Hz), which
15

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sharpen at 243 K to reveal additional HH coupling (see Figure 6S). The 1H{31P} spectrum at 243
1
K collapses these two hydride resonances into a doublet and a triplet (JHH = 3.5 Hz) and the H
COSY (Figure 5S) further confirms their mutual coupling. These properties agree with and
complete those previously reported in CDCl3 [85]. The corresponding 31P{1H} resonances are
found at δX -21.3 (2P, doublet) and δY 17.1 (1P, triplet) with JPP = 15 Hz (mutual coupling
1
confirmed by 31P COSY) and the coupling to the above-described hydride H resonances was
confirmed by HMQC (Figure 5S).
Product III shows an ABXY2 spin system. The spectral properties, shown in detail in Figure 4,
are very similar but not identical to those described for mer-[IrClH2(PPh3)3] [95]. Notably,
although the chemical shifts of the hydride resonances in the 1H spectrum and of the phosphines in
31
the P spectrum and the HH and HP coupling constants are very close to those reported for this
compound, the PP coupling (14.4 Hz) is about half that reported for the chloro derivative (26 Hz).
It seems likely, therefore, that the complex corresponds to mer-[IrXH2(PPh3)3], where X is an
alkoxide ligand originating from the base or from the solvent. Its formation can be formally seen
as an alcohol oxidative addition to [IrH(PPh3)3]. It is notable that the characteristic resonances of
the previously described [94, 96] anionic hydrides complexes [IrH2(PPh3)3]- and [IrH4(PPh3)4]- are
absent. The correlation between the 1H and 31P resonances is confirmed by the HMQC experiment
in CDCl3 (Figure 4S).
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1
Figure 4. H (a) and 31P{1H} (b) NMR properties of the minor product III resulting from the
reaction between [IrCl(COD)]2, PPh4 (4 equiv) and excess NaOMe in boiling iPrOH. The upper
trace for the HB resonance is the simulated spectrum using the parameters indicated in the
molecular diagram (in Hz units).
The generation of COD-free products upon heating [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] in the presence of base
raises the question of the fate of COD. The NMR evidence that [IrH(PPh3)3] is generated at room
temperature, even though in minor amounts (vide supra), suggests the ability of PPh3 to displace
COD. The observed isomeric [IrH3(PPh3)3] products may result from subsequent transformations
of this intermediate, for instance by oxidative addition if iPrOH to yield mer-[Ir(OiPr)H2(PPh3)3]
which is one of the proposed products, followed by β-H elimination with the generation of
acetone, while the expelled COD may remain unaltered. Alternatively, thermal activation of the
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] complex may lead to hydride ligand migration to the COD ligand, followed by
further alcohol activation and transfer hydrogenation of COD, which would eventually be
17

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
eliminated as hydrogenated products. A quantitative gas-chromatographic analysis of the
isopropanol solution revealed the generation of cyclooctene (54.4%) and cyclooctane (32.2%),
while cyclooctadiene was not detected. Thus, it appears that transfer hydrogenation of the COD
ligand is required to accomplish the trasformation.
Another surprising feature of the above reaction is the generation of tris-PPh3 complexes from a
1
31
mixture where the PPh3/Ir ratio is only 2. Nevertheless, the H and P spectra (figures 3 and 3S)
do not show any other major phosphorus-containing product nor additional hydride resonances
accounting for 1/3 of the missing Ir sample. This indicates that the formation of the [IrH3(PPh3)3]
isomers must be accompanied by the generation of one (or more) iridium by-product that contains
neither PPh3 nor hydride, for instance [Ir(µ-OiPr)(COD)]2. Repeating the same reaction with 3
equivalents of PPh3 per Ir atom led to formation of the same observed products but, interestingly,
the transformation was much slower: complex [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] was still present in large
amounts (ca. 40%) after 3 hours of reflux, whereas it was totally consumed in less than 1 h when
using a P/Ir ratio of 2. This indicates a determining role of PPh3 dissociation for triggering the
reaction. We therefore propose that the reaction mechanistically involves the initial steps shown in
Scheme 1.
H
Ir
H
H
PPh3
PPh3
ꢀPPh3
H
iPrOH
Ir
Ir
PPh3
OiPr
PPh3
H
Ir
+PPh3
H
H
H
Ir
H
PPh3
Ph3P
+PPh3
H
PPh3
PPh3
ꢀMeCOMe
Ir
+
H
PPh3
OiPr
PPh3
PPh3
H
Ph3P
H
Ir
PPh3
PPh3
18

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Scheme 1. Proposed mechanism for the first steps of the transformation of [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] to
fac- and mer-[IrH3(PPh3)3] in hot isopropanol. The stereochemical assignment to the intermediates
is hypothetical.
The COD hydrogenation and elimination from the metal cordination sphere in basic
isopropanol, in the absence of H2, is in line with the previous work already mentioned in the
introduction on related systems with diphospine, diphosphinite and pyridine-functionalized N-
heterocyclic carbene ligands [13, 61, 63]. However, whereas those previous contributions only
indicated the formation of cyclooctene, we also find that a considerable amount of cyclooctane is
generated in this case. A possible reason for the more extensive COD hydrogenation before
expulsion in the present case is that the supporting PPh3 ligand, through its lower binding ability
and/or lack of chelate effect, dissociates more easily from the metal center allowing more
isopropanol to oxidatively add and to transfer hydrogen atoms to the organic ligand before this can
be expelled. However, more mechanistic work is needed before firmly rationalizing this
observation. At any rate, the results described here clearly demonstrate that the previously
reported transfer hydrogenation processes catalyzed by [IrCl(COD)]2/phosphine ligand/strong
base in isopropanol at high temperature likely generate active species that are devoid of the COD
ligand. In the presence of PPh3 [71], whether the active catalyst is one or both of the isomeric
[IrH3(PPh3)3] complexes or whether these are themselves precursors of the real catalyst is not yet
quite clear. These componds, in our hands, appear quite stable under the conditions used for
transfer hydrogenation (prolonged reflux in isopropanol in the presence of strong base). However,
it cannot be excluded that they generate irreversibly minor amounts of a very active catalyst or
that the catalysis is promoted, when less than 3 equivalents of PPh3 per Ir atom are used, by the
other H- and PPh3-free compounds that are generated by the thermal activation. It has been
reported that compound [IrH3(PPh3)3] (undefined isomer), catalyzes the transfer hydrogenation of
19

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
aldehydes by formic acid [97].
It is also worthy to compare the presently described behavior with that of complex
[IrCl(COD)(PS)], where (PS) is the bidentate ferrocenyl phosphine-thioether CpFe[1,2-
C5H3(PPh2)(CH2StBu)] ligand, which was suggested on the basis of DFT calculations to generate
the tetrahydrido complex [IrH4(PS)]-, isoelectronic with the above-mentioned [IrH4(PPh3)4]-, in
basic isopropanol during the catalyzed hydrogenation of acetophenone [98]. However, in the
present case the activation and COD removal occurs without the use of H2. The generation of the
neutral [IrH3(PPh3)3] isomers, instead of [IrH4(PPh3)4]-, may be related to the greater basicity of
two PPh3 ligands relative to the (PS) ligand.
Crystallization of the product mixture of the [IrCl(COD)]2/PPh3/KOtBu reaction in refluxing
isopropanol from CDCl3 afforded single crystals of the major fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3] product. A
diffraction study has confirmed the molecular geometry (see Figure 5). The molecule sits on a
crystallographic threefold axis. Only the mer isomer was previously structurally characterized
[99]. Other structurally characterized [IrH3L3] molecules with phosphorus donor L ligands have
been described with both the mer (for instance with L3 = PhP(CH2CH2CH2PCy2)2 [100] or
(PMe2Ph)(PiPr3)2 [101]) and the fac geometry (with L = PMePh2 [102] or L3 = N(CH2CH2PPh2)3
[103]). With respect to the closest structure of the fac-[IrH3(PMePh2)3] complex, the Ir-H distance
(1.39(5) Å) is much shorter (cf. 1.627(4) Å) while the Ir-P distance (2.3296(5) Å) is slightly longer
(cf. 2.314(2) Å), but the X-ray measurement is known to underestimate the metal-H distances,
while the structure of fac-[IrH3(PMePh2)3] was more precisely determined by neutron diffraction
[102]. In the structure of the isomeric mer-[IrH3(PPh3)3], also determined by X-ray diffraction, the
Ir-H distances were rather unprecisely determined as 1.58(25), 1.62(28) and 1.59(26) Å, while the
Ir-P distances are 2.347(3) Å for the unique P atom trans to H and 2.287(3) and 2.285(3) Å for the
two P atoms trans to each other. The tendency for the Ir-P bonds to be lengthened by the trans
influence of the H ligand is clear and the results for the two mer and fac isomers are consistent in
20

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
this respect.
Figure 5. ORTEP view of fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3]. Relevant structural parameters: Ir-P, 2.3296(5); Ir-H,
1.39(5) Å; P-Ir-Pi, 103.021(16); H-Ir-P, 89.7(19); H-Ir-Pi, 84(2); H-Ir-Pii, 164(2)°. Symmetry
codes: (i) 1-y, x-y, z; (ii) -x+y, 1-x, z.
4. Conclusions
The main contribution of the present work is the unambiguous demonstration that the
[IrCl(COD)]2/PPh3/KOtBu precatalyst for transfer hydrogenation in isopropanol loses the COD
ligand in a hydrogenated form (mixture of cycloctene and cyclooctane) when thermally activated.
Thus, previous assumptions that this catalytic system, as well as related ones with other
monodentate phosphine (and probably also bidentate diphosphines), operate by COD-containing
active species must be discarded. This investigation arrives at the same conclusion as that of
Jiménez et al. based on a systems with a pyridine-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene as ligand
[61]. It is of interest to verify whether this phenomenon is specific to those ligands or general for
Ir-based precatalysts used as transfer hydrogenation precatalysts. It is also pertinent to ask the
same question about the related Rh stystems, at least those requiring high temperatures to achieve
significant activity.
21

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Along the present study, we have also completed the NMR spectroscopic characterization of
13
compound [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] with the C{1H} spectrum, we have presented for the first time a
full 1H and 31P{1H} NMR characterization of compound mer-[IrH3(PPh3)3] and the X-ray structure
of compound fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3], we have corrected a literature misassignment of the 31P NMR
resonance for the latter compound, and we have evidenced a few additional by-products formed
by thermal activation of the above mentioned precatalyst system. The slowdown of the thermal
activation in the presence of additional PPh3 shows that PPh3 dissociation from
[IrH(COD)(PPh3)2] is a prerequisite for the transformations leading to hydrogenation and
elimination of the COD ligand.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the European Commission, Contract No. 654198 (Marie Curie action IIF) for
a post-doctoral Fellowship to SMWR, and CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
and IUF (Institut Universitaire de France) for additional funding. We gratefully acknowledge Dr.
Yannick Coppel for help and advice on the NMR experiments.
Supplementary data
Additional NMR spectra as cited in the text (8 pages). The supplementary crystallographic data
for fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3] have been deposited to the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre as
CCDC 1501228 and can obtained free of charge from via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif.
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Research Highlights
1. Activation of the [IrCl(COD)]/PPh3/KOiBu transfer hydrogenation precatalyst mixture
generates fac and mer -[IrH3(PPh3)3].
2. Cyclooctadiene is fully converted to cyclooctene and cyclooctane by transfer hydrogenation
from isopropanol.
3. Full NMR characterization is provided for the [IrH(COD)(PPh3)2], fac and mer -[IrH3(PPh3)3]
complexes.
4. The structure of fac-[IrH3(PPh3)3] has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.