Remote functional group directed C-H activation by an Ir(iii) phenanthroline complex.

The regioselectivity of the C-H activation of 1-butanol and 1-methoxybutane by an iridium(iii) phenanthroline complex was studied in the gas phase and revealed activation at gamma and delta carbons. In the ether, nearly exclusive gamma activation was observed. DFT calculations were used to explore the origin of this substrate-driven selectivity. The data show that the iridium(iii) complex is a potent and potentially highly selective remote C-H activation agent.