Xiao- Yi

Unexpected transfer of phenyl from a phenylbismuth complex to iridium in [Cp*IrCl2]2

Tetranuclear [PhBi(pyzc)2]4·2(H2O) (1) (where pyzc− = 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid) is easily obtained via reaction of BiPh3 and Hpyzc under reflux. Treatment of 1 with [Cp*IrCl2]2 affords phenyliridium complex [Cp*Ir(Ph)(2-(NC4H3N)CO2)] (2). Unexpected transfer of phenyl from 1 to iridium occurs. The structures of 1 and 2 are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each bismuth in 1 is in the center of distorted pentagonal pyramidal geometry, equatorially coordinating one κ2-N,O and one μ2-(κ2-N,O),O′ pyzc, axially binding to phenyl. Complex 2 displays a typical piano-stool geometry with the metal center coordinated by Cp*, a terminal phenyl, and a chelating N,O-ligand. The UV–vis spectrum of 2 is described. Graphical Abstract