Iridium-catalyzed double incorporation reaction of N-benzylmaleimide to styrene via ortho-C-H bond activation, initiated by precoordination of the double bond of styrene to iridium

Reaction of styrene with N-benzylmaleimide in the presence of[IrCl(cod)](2) (5 mol%) and bpy (10 mol%) in an autoclave (1 MPa of Ar) at 150 degrees C for 18 h stercoselectively led to the formation of a new cyclic product. The structure of the product Suggests that a novel iridium-catalyzed double incorporation reaction takes place via a metallacyclopentane formed after ortho-C-H activation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.