Abstract
Four new dinuclear iridium(I) complexes were synthesized from the di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand precursors 1,1′-methylene-bis(3-benzyl-imidazolium)dichloride and 1,1′-methylene-bis(3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)imidazolium)dichloride. The complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods, HR-MS (ESI) spectrometry, furthermore, the structure of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 3a and 3b which have sulfonated triphenylphosphine ligands, were successfully used under mild conditions as catalysts in reduction reaction of ketones via hydrogen transfer from aqueous 2-propanol, and for hydrogenation of alkynes in aqueous-organic biphasic systems.
Graphical Abstract
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Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.