Early–Late Heterobimetallic Complexes with a Ta–Ir Multiple Bond: Bimetallic Oxidative Additions of C–H, N–H, and O–H Bonds

A heterobinuclear transition metal complex with a Ta–Ir multiple bond, Cp*(Me3SiCH2)2Ta–IrCp*(H)2 (1), was synthesized using a salt elimination reaction. The isolable complex was characterized by NMR, IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 features an exceptionally short intermetallic distance (Ta–Ir 2.4457(3) Å). DFT calculation for 1 revealed the presence of a highly covalent bonding nature in spite of the involvement of such disparate d elements. Oxidative additions of C–H, N–H, and O–H bonds to 1 were also investigated.