Iridium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of benzimidazol-2-ylidene: effect of electron donating groups on the catalytic transfer hydrogenation reaction


GÜLCEMAL S., Gokce A. G., Cetinkaya B.

DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol.42, no.20, pp.7305-7311, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 42 Issue: 20
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1039/c2dt32482b
  • Journal Name: DALTON TRANSACTIONS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.7305-7311
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Two new [Ir(NHC)(COD)Cl] (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) iridium complexes (2a,b) have been prepared by the reaction of [Ir(COD) Cl](2) with in situ prepared NHC-Ag carbene transfer agents in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. They have been fully characterized by H-1, C-13 NMR, and elemental analysis. X-ray diffraction studies on single crystals of 2a and 2b confirm the square planar geometry. Complexes of type [Ir(NHC)(CO)(2)Cl] [NHC = 1,3-diisopropyl(5,6-dimethyl)benzimidazol-2-ylidene] 3 were also synthesized to compare sigma-donor/pi-acceptor strength of NHC ligands. Transfer hydrogenation (TH) reactions of various aldehydes and ketones have been studied using complexes 2a and 2b as catalysts. The 5,6-dimethyl substituted iridium complex (2b) showed the highest catalytic activity for the TH reaction.