Synthesis of Pincer Iridium Complexes Bearing a Boron Atom and iPr-Substituted Phosphorus Atoms: Application to Catalytic Transfer Dehydrogenation of Alkanes

An Pr-i-substituted PBP-pincer ligand was synthesized and introduced to iridium metal to give Pr-i-(PBP)Ir(H)Cl and 'Pr-(PBP)Ir(C2H4) complexes. Both of these complexes were found to be moderately active for the catalytic transfer dehydrogenation of cyclooctane.