Hydrovinylation of Olefins Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex via CH Activation

Olefin dimerizations are typically proposed
to proceed via a Cossee−Arlman type migratory mechanism involving relatively electron-rich metal hydrides.
We provide experimental evidence and theoretical calculations that show, in contrast, relatively electron-poor
O-donor Ir complexes can catalyze the dimerization of
olefins via a mechanism that involves olefin CH bond
activation and insertion into a metal−vinyl intermediate.