Novel intramolecular C-H bond activation in an iridium dppm complex

Reaction of TpIr(C(2)H(4))(2) (Tp = tris-pyrazolylborate) with various chelating phosphine ligands has been explored. Reaction with bis-diphenylphosphinoethane leads to complete displacement of the Tp ligand. With bis-diphenylphosphinomethane, an intramolecular proton transfer from the methylene bridge to the iridium center occurs to give an iridium hydride complex formally resulting from oxidative C-H bond activation. Reaction with 2,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppip) affords an Ir(I) complex formulated as kappa(2)-TpIr(dppip). Protonation of this Ir(I) complex gives a six coordinate Ir(III) hydride species.