ORGANIC REACTIONS INVOLVING TRANSITION METALS .2. REACTION OF IRIDIUM TRICHLORIDE TETRAHYDRATE WITH HEXAMETHYLBICYCLO[2.2.0]HEXA-2,5-DIENE

The para-bonded isomer of hexamethylbenzene, hexamethylbicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene, reacts with iridium trichloride tetrahydrate to give di-μ-chloro-dichlorobis (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)diiridium, (C5Me5IrCl2)2, and hexamethylbenzene. The same compound has also been obtained from the reaction of 1-(1methoxyethyl)pentamethyl-2,4-cyclopentadiene with IrCl3·4 H2O under similar conditions. Reaction of the compound (C5Me5IrCl2)2 with sodium iodide gives the corresponding iodo-complex, and reaction with pyridien, p-toluidine, triphenylphosphine or 1,5-cyclooctadiene gives the compounds C5Me5IrCl2L (where L=PPh3, C5H5H or p-CH3C6H4NH2) and C5Me5IrC8H12 respectively. © 1969.