Solid/Gas In Crystallo Reactivity of an Ir(I) Methylidene Complex

In crystallo stabilization of known, but solution unstable, methylidene complex [Ir(tBu-PONOP)(═CH2)][BArF4] allows single-crystal to single-crystal solid/gas reactivity associated with the {Ir═CH2} group to be studied. Addition of H2 results in [Ir(tBu-PONOP)(H)2][BArF4]; exposure to CO forms iridium(I) carbonyl [Ir(tBu-PONOP)(CO)][BArF4], and reaction with NH3 gas results in the formation of methylamine complex [(tBu-PONOP)Ir(NH2Me)][BArF4] via an aminocarbene intermediate. Periodic density functional theory and electronic structure analyses confirm the Ir═CH2 bond character but with a very low barrier to rotation around the Ir═CH2 bond. Calculations show that addition of NH3 to the electrophilic alkylidene carbon gives an initial ammonium ylid intermediate. Stepwise N–H and C–H transfers then form the aminocarbene intermediate as a kinetic product from which two successive C–H couplings lead to the more stable methylamine product.