Iridium pincer complexes are leading catalysts for alkane dehydrogenation, typically using stoichiometric amounts of a sacrificial olefin at high temperatures. Electrochemical methods for catalyst activation are being explored with the goal of eliminating the necessity of sacrificial reagents or harsh reaction conditions. The individual steps of a possible electrochemical dehydrogenation cycle have been studied for (PCP)Ir(H)2 (PCP = C6H3-2,6-CH2PtBu2). The initial electrochemical oxidation of (PCP)Ir(H)2 occurs by loss of 1H/2e-, resulting in the formation of a reactive cationic hydride intermediate that can be trapped by the addition of stabilizing ligands. To explore the subsequent deprotonation and C-H activation processes, a series of cationic iridium hydrides supported by a coordinating ligand were prepared. Applications of electrochemically-activated iridium complexes to C-H activation and dehydrogenation will be presented.

Electrochemical oxidation and deprotonation of iridium pincer catalysts: Understanding key steps on the road to alkane dehydrogenation

254th National Meeting (2017)

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