Serendipitous preparation of fac-(aceto-nitrile-κN)tri-chlorido-[(1,2,5,6-η)-cyclo-octa-1,5-diene]iridium(III).

Abstract

A reaction between [(COD)IrCl]2 (COD is cyclo-octa-1,5-diene), HCl and indene failed to provide the hoped for chlorido-indenyliridium dimer, but instead produced the title compound, [IrCl3(CH3CN)(C8H12)], which is an octa-hedral complex of iridium(III) with a chelating cyclo-octa-1,5-diene ligand, three chloride ligands in a fac arrangement, and one aceto-nitrile ligand. Attempts to devise a rational synthesis for the title compound were unsuccessful.