Synthesis of 4,5-Benzotropone π Complexes of Iron, Rhodium, and Iridium and Their Potential Use in Catalytic Borrowing-Hydrogen Reactions.

The syntheses of rhodium, iridium, and iron π complexes bearing 4,5-benzotropone ligands are reported. X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that a tropone core coordinates to a metal center in a η4 manner with a tub-form geometry. Some of the benzotropone π complexes exhibited catalytic activity for N-alkylation of aniline by borrowing hydrogen.