Preparation, Aromaticity, and Bromination of Spiro Iridafurans.

Iridium centers of [Ir(μ-Cl)(C 8 H 14 ) 2 ] 2 ( 1 ) activate the C β (sp 2 )-H bond of benzylideneacetone to give [Ir(μ-Cl){κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 ] 2 ( 2 ), which is the starting point for the preparation of the spiro iridafurans IrCl{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 (P i Pr 3 ) ( 3 ), [Ir{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 (MeCN) 2 ]BF 4 ( 4 ), [Ir(μ-OH){κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 ] 2 ( 5 ), Ir{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 {κ 2 - C,N -[C 6 MeH 3 -py]} ( 6 ), and Ir{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 {κ 2 - O,O -[acac]} ( 7 ). The five-membered rings are orthogonally arranged with the oxygen atoms in trans in an octahedral environment of the iridium atom. Spiro iridafurans are aromatic. The degree of aromaticity and the negative charge of the CH-carbon of the rings depend on ligand trans to the carbon directly attached to the metal. Aromaticity has been experimentally confirmed by bromination of iridafurans with N -bromosuccinimide (NBS). Reactions are sensitive to the degree of aromaticity of the ring and the negative charge of the attacked CH-carbon. Iridafurans can be selectively brominated, when different ligands lie trans to metalated carbons. Bromination of 3 occurs in the ring with the metalated carbon trans to chloride, whereas the bromination of 6 takes place in the ring with the metalated carbon trans to pyridyl. The first gives IrCl{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]}{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}(P i Pr 3 ) ( 8 ), which reacts with more NBS to form IrCl{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]} 2 (P i Pr 3 ) ( 9 ). The second yields Ir{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]}{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}{κ 2 - C,N -[C 6 MeH 3 -py]} ( 10 ). The origin of the selectivity is kinetic, with the rate-determining step of the reaction being the NBS attack. The activation energy depends on the negative charge of the attacked atom; a higher negative charge allows for a lower activation energy. Accordingly, complex 7 undergoes bromination in the acetylacetonate ligand, giving Ir{κ 2 - C,O -[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]} 2 {κ 2 - O,O -[acacBr]} ( 11 ).