Alkane dehydrogenation reactions involving iridium pincer catalysts are generally carried out thermally (not electrochemically) with a sacrificial hydrogen acceptor (e.g. <i>tert-</i>butylethylene).  With the goal of removing hydrogen in the form of two protons and two electrons to trigger alkane dehydrogenation, the electrochemical oxidation of pincer iridium hydride species has been examined. A reactive cationic iridium hydride species is implicated in this process, resulting from a two electron and one proton transfer — a net hydride loss.  Analogous hydride loss reactions were also been demonstrated with chemical hydride transfer reagents.

Oxidative electrochemistry of pincer complexes

254th National Meeting (2017)

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