Activation of ring methyls in pentamethylcyclopentadienyliridium(III); new routes to functionalised complexes

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyliridium(III) complexes, e.g.[(C5Me4CH3)Ir(Me)(Ph)(CO)] are metallated by BusLi at a ring methyl; the resultant lithio-complex reacts with organic halides, ketones and CO2 to give the appropriately substituted [(C5Me4CH2W)IrX(Me)(CO)](X = Ph; W = SiMe3, CH2CHCH2, PhCH2, Ph2COH, PhMeCOH, or X = Cl; W = CO2H, CO2Me).