Auration, argentation, and mercuration reactions of an iridaphosphirene

The reactions of the iridaphosphirene complex [Ir{=C('Bu)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)(2)] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with either [AuCl(tht)] 14 (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) or AgCl result in the products [Ir{=C(Bu-t)P[M(Cl)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)(2)], M = Au or Ag, The aurated product can additionally be obtained on reaction of the iridaphosphirene with [AuCl((CNBu)-Bu-t)], via loss of the isocyanide ligand. Treatment of [lr =C(Bu-t)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)(2)] with [AuCl(PPh3)(2) in the presence of silver triflate leads to the isolation of the salt, [Ir{=C(Bu-t)P[Au(PPh3)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)(2)][SO3CF3]. Reaction of the iridaphosphirene with PhHgCl in the absence or presence of silver triflate affords the mercurated species [lr =C(Bu-t)P-[Hg(Ph)](Cy)}(CO)PPh3)(2)]X, X = Cl or CF3SO3, respectively. The former exhibits a weakly mercury-coordinated chloride ion. The X-ray crystal structures of all of the complexes are described.