An anion-dependent switch in selectivity results from a change of C-H activation mechanism in the reaction of an imidazolium salt with IrH5(PPh3)2

Changing the counteranion along the series Br, BF4, PF6, SbF6 in their ion-paired 2-pyridylmethyl imidazolium salts causes the kinetic reaction products with IrH5(PPh3)(2) to switch from chelating N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) having normal C2 (N path) to abnormal C5 binding (AN path). Computational work (DFT) suggests that the AN path involves C-H oxidative addition to Ir-III to give Ir-V with little anion dependence. The N path, in contrast, goes by heterolytic C-H activation with proton transfer to the adjacent hydride. The proton that is transferred is accompanied by the counteranion in an anion-coupled proton transfer, leading to an anion dependence of the N path, and therefore of the N/AN selectivity. The N path goes via Ir-III, not Ir-V, because the normal NHC is a much less strong donor ligand than the abnormal NHC. PGSE NMR experiments support the formation of ion-pair in both the reactants and the products. F-19,H-1-HOESY NMR experiments indicate an ion-pair structure for the products that is consistent with the computational prediction (ONIOM(B3PW91/UFF)).