Synthesis and characterization of a large bite angle iridium nixantphos complex

Abstract

The complex (nixantphos)Ir(cod)Cl·CH₂Cl₂(0.5C₇H₈) 3 has been synthesized and structurally characterized by NMR, IR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination around Ir is trigonal bipyramidal with both P groups of the nixantphos bound in a bis-equatorial mode. The bis-chelating cod (C₈H₁₂) occupies the remaining equatorial position and an axial position. This mode of bonding resulted in a large bite angle (P1—Ir—P2) of 106.49° (3) for 3. The IR and NMR data support the elucidated structure. Thermal analyses of 3 indicate that it is thermally stable up to decomposition greater than 400°C.

Keywords:

• Nixantphos
• Iridium complex
• Bite angle
• Catalyst

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Dr Manuel Fernandez (University of the Witwatersrand) for crystal data collection, SASOL, THRIP and the University of KwaZulu-Natal for financial support. We gratefully acknowledge Johnson Matthey for a loan of iridium trichloride.