Iridium(I) and Rhodium(I) Carbonyl Complexes with the Bis(3-<i>tert</i>-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)borate Ligand and Unusual B−H Fluorination

Iridium(I) and rhodium(I) carbonyl complexes [H2B(ImtBu)2]M(CO)2 (M = Ir, 1a; M = Rh, 1b) with the bis(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)borate ligand have been prepared. Reactions of 1a,b with [FeCp2][PF6] or AgPF6 unexpectedly yielded the B−F products [F2B(ImtBu)2]M(CO)2 (M = Ir, 2a; M = Rh, 2b), respectively. IR peaks of the CO ligands have been used to evaluate the electronic effects of bis(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)borate and its fluorinated derivative.