Ir(III)-Induced C-Bound to N-Bound Tautomerization of a N-Heterocyclic Carbene

An iridium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex
with a rare hydrogen wing tip was obtained via C−N bond
cleavage. The C-bound to N-bound tautomerization of this
carbene cannot be achieved in this neutral 18-electron Ir(III)
complex. Chloride abstraction in MeCN afforded an NHC−acetimidamide complex, where the N-bound to C-bound tautomerization of this carbene was observed in CDCl3 at 110 °C.
Crystal structures of iridium complexes with these rare ligands
were reported.