Formation and reactivity of Ir(III) hydroxycarbonyl complexes.

Kinetic studies show that the reaction of [TpIr(CO)2] (1, Tp = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate) with water to give [TpIr(CO2H)(CO)H] (2) is second order (k = 1.65 x 10(-4) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1), 25 degrees C, MeCN) with activation parameters DeltaH++= 46+/-2 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS++ = -162+/-5 J K(-1) mol(-1). A kinetic isotope effect of k(H2O)/k(D2O) = 1.

A mechanistic investigation of oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Tp*Rh(CO)(L)].

Reaction of methyl iodide with square planar [kappa(2)-Tp*Rh(CO)(PMe(3))] 1a (Tp* = HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)) at room temperature affords [kappa(3)-Tp*Rh(CO)(PMe(3))(Me)]I 2a, which was fully characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The pseudooctahedral geometry of cationic 2a, which contains a kappa(3)-coordinated Tp* ligand, indicates a reaction mechanism in which nucleophilic attack by Rh on MeI is accompanied by coordination of the pendant pyrazolyl group. In solution 2a transforms slowly into a neutral (acetyl)(iodo) rhodium complex [kappa(3)-Tp*Rh(PMe(3))(COMe)I] 3a, for which an X-ray crystal structure is also reported.