Reactions of Anilines and Benzamides with a 14-Electron Iridium(I) Bis(phosphinite) Complex: N−H Oxidative Addition versus Lewis Base Coordination

Anilines react with (POCOP)Ir(C6H5)(H) (12; POCOP = 2,6-(OPtBu2)2C6H3) to yield equilibrium
mixtures of 12, the Ir(I) σ-complexes (POCOP)Ir(NH2Ar) (13), and the Ir(III) oxidative addition adducts
(POCOP)Ir(H)(NHAr) (14). Quantitative studies of these equilibria for a series of anilines were carried
out. Anilines possessing electron-withdrawing groups favor the Ir(III) oxidative addition adduct over the
Ir(I) σ-complex. Low-temperature studies using p-chloroaniline show that the Ir(I) σ-complex is the kinetic
product of the reaction and is likely the precursor to the Ir(III) oxidative addition adduct. Reductive
elimination of complexes 14 in the presence of ethylene led to the corresponding anilines and the ethylene
complex (POCOP)Ir(C2H4). Kinetic analysis of these reactions for 14e−g bearing electron-withdrawing
aryl groups (Ar- = p-CF3C6H4-, C6F5-, 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3-) shows the rate is independent of ethylene
concentration. The ΔG⧧ values for these reductive eliminations fall in the range of 21−22 kcal/mol.
X-ray analysis establishes 14f (Ar- = C6F5-) as a square-pyramidal complex with the hydride occupying
the apical site. Reaction of 12 with benzamides 21a,b yields quantitatively the Ir(III) oxidative addition
adducts (POCOP)Ir(H)(NHC(O)Ar) (22). X-ray analysis of 22b (Ar- = C6F5-) shows significant interaction
of the carbonyl oxygen with Ir in the site trans to hydride. The barrier to reductive elimination of 22a,
29 kcal/mol, is substantially higher than for complexes 14e−g.