Flash Communication: Cooperative C–Cl Bond Activation of Dichloromethane by Heterobimetallic Ir(I)–M(IV) Pairs (M = Mo, W)

The activation of dichloromethane is a rather uncommon process that has mostly been observed upon oxidative addition of C–Cl bonds on mononuclear transition metal complexes. Instead, less attention has been given to multinuclear CH2Cl2 activation. In this work, Ir(I)/M(IV) (M = W or Mo) heterobimetallic pairs were found to activate dichloromethane cooperatively, leading to the cleavage of one or even two C–Cl bonds. The use of dichloromethane as a C1 source has also been achieved, resulting in an effective methylene transfer reaction in the case of the Ir(I)/W(IV) system that contrasts with the unreactive behavior of the monometallic precursors.