(Indenyl)iridacarborane (η5-indenyl)Ir(η-7,8-C2B9H11): synthesis, structure, and bonding

Abstract

A reaction of iodide [(η⁵-indenyl)IrI₂]_n (1) with thallium dicarbollide Tl[Tl(η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁)] leads to (indenyl)iridacarborane (η⁵-indenyl)Ir(η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁) (2) in 32% yield. The X-ray diffraction study showed that in the structure of 2, the five-membered rings C₅ and C₂B₃ have a cisoid conformation, in which the bridgehead carbon atoms of the indenyl ligand are arranged opposite to the carborane cage carbon atoms. The DFT calculations showed that the Ir—indenyl bond in compound 2 is weaker than the Ir—Cp bond in the complex (η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁)IrCp.