Air- and water-stable catalysts for hydroamination/cyclization. Synthesis and application of CCC-NHC pincer complexes of Rh and Ir

The scope of CCC-NHC pincer complex synthetic methodology by metalation/transmetalation has been extended to Ir. Structural characterization revealed that it is isomorphous with the Rh complex. Both Rh and Ir complexes are efficient catalysts for the hydroamination/cyclization of secondary amines in the presence of air and/or water.