Article of the month

The cyclometallated compounds [(C5Me5)Ir(X){PMe(2,6-CH2(Me)C6H3)(2,6-Me2C6H3)}] (X=Cl, H, Me) have been synthesized in high yields and their potential for C-H activation demonstrated. Subsequent functionalization of these species has provided a series of complexes that exhibit very interesting H/D exchange reactions. Deuterium incorporation into the metallated ligand backbone has been achieved for X=Cl and X=H, with unexpected dissimilar results and hence through different reaction pathways.