Synthesis, Structure, Spectroscopy, and Reactivity of a Metallabenzene1

A rare example of a stable metallabenzene complex has been synthesized in three high-yield steps from (Cl)Ir(PEt3)3. In the first step, (Cl)Ir(PEt3)3 is treated with potassium 2,4-dimethylpentadienide to produce the metallacyclohexadiene complex mer-CHC(Me)CHC(Me)CH2Ir(PEt3)3(H) (1b) via metal-centered CH bond activation. Treatment of 1b with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate removes the hydride ligand, producing [CHC(Me)CHC(Me)CH2Ir(PEt3)3]+O3SCF3- (2). Finally, deprotonation of 2 with base yields the metallabenzene complex CHC(Me)CHC(Me)CHIr(PEt3)3 (3). The X-ray crystal structure of 3 shows the coordination geometry about iridium to be square pyramidal. The metallabenzene ring is nearly planar, and the ring π-bonding is delocalized. In the 1H NMR spectrum of 3, the ring protons (H1/H5 and H3) are shifted downfield, consistent with the presence of an aromatic ring current. Compound 3 reacts with a variety of small 2e- ligands under mild conditions to produce monosubstituted metallabenzenes, CHC(Me)CHC(Me...