Chelating N-heterocyclic carbene–carboranes offer flexible ligand coordination to Ir^III, Rh^III and Ru^II: effect of ligand cyclometallation in catalytic transfer hydrogenation

Abstract

Bu and subsequent alkyl coordination was observed at Ir. Coordination of the closo-dicarbadodecaborane moiety to Ir was possible to give 7-membered metallacycles, coordinated through the carbenic carbon of the NHC and either a carbon atom or a boron atom of the carborane. Examination of the Ir complexes in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol reveals that cyclometallation of the carborane moiety is important for catalytic efficacy, indicating a bifunctional mechanism and involvement of the dicarbadodecaborane anion.