Switchable iridium hydride catalysts for controlling selectivity of alcohol oxidation

Novel pyridyl-triazolylidene iridium(III) hydride complexes have been synthesized through modification of the analogous iridium chloride complexes. The dehydration of alcohols was used to probe the catalytic potential of the iridium chloride compounds and the influence of the electronic modification on the pyridyl-triazolylidene ligand scaffolds. The incorporation of electron donor substituents on the triazolylidene heterocycle considerably enhanced the catalytic activity of the coordinated iridium center towards the catalytic dehydration of alcohols. Moreover, the iridium hydride compounds are switchable catalysts that perform either alcohol dehydration or dehydrogenation. Their selectivity was predictably triggered by the presence or absence of HPF6in the catalytic reaction.

通过对类似的氯化铱配合物进行修饰，合成了新型吡啶基 - 三唑卡宾铱(III)氢化物配合物。利用醇的脱水反应来探究氯化铱化合物的催化潜力以及吡啶基 - 三唑卡宾配体骨架上电子修饰的影响。在三唑卡宾杂环上引入电子给体取代基显著提高了配位铱中心对醇催化脱水的催化活性。此外，铱氢化物化合物是可转换的催化剂，既能进行醇脱水反应，也能进行脱氢反应。它们的选择性可由催化反应中是否存在六氟磷酸（HPF₆）来预测触发。