Fluoro-Ligand Promotion of C−H Activation

Ethylene dehydrogenates Ir(H) 2 FL 2 (L = P t Bu 2 Ph) to give the metalated species 1 and 2 . These metalated species catalyze the exchange of deuterium from C 6 D 6 to ethylene, and to t Bu and ortho phenyl sites of coordinated L. This exchange is proposed to benefit from π-donation from F to Ir.