Chlorination of (Phebox)Ir(mesityl)(OAc) by thionyl chloride

Abstract

Pincer (Phebox)Ir(mesityl)(OAc) (2) (Phebox = 3,5-dimethylphenyl-2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)) complex, formed by benzylic C-H activation of mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) using (Phebox)Ir(OAc) 2 OH 2 (1), was treated with thionyl chloride to rapidly form 1-(chloromethyl)-3,5-dimethylbenzene in 50% yield at 23 ° C. A green species was obtained at the end of reaction, which decomposed during flash column chromatography to form (Phebox)IrCl 2 OH 2 in 87% yield.