Synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity of a new chiral NHC-iridium(III) complex

The new chiral NHC-iridium complex 3 has been prepared in CH3CN from the reaction between [Ir(COD)Cl](2), NaOAc, KI, and dibenzimidazolium salt 2 which is derived from (S)-2,2'-diamino-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl. Complex 3 has been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses, and X-ray diffraction analysis. It has a distorted-octahedral IrC2N2IH core structure, and shows good catalytic activity for the asymmetric hydrosilylation of arylmethyl ketones, leading to 1-arylethanol with moderate ee values. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.