Iridium-aquo complexes are utilized as catalysts for a variety of transformations in aqueous and organic solvents. Traditional methods to access the aquo complexes from their chloride precursors rely on solubility-driven chloride removal by silver salts, with an excess of the silver salt is typically required for complete conversion from the iridium chloride complex to the iridium aquo complex. This residual electrochemically-active silver ion frequently causes interference in electrochemical experiments. To avoid such interference, solid-phase extraction may be employed to synthesize the iridium-aquo complexes directly from the iridium chloride complex, bypassing the use of silver. This new pathway is less expensive than the use of silver salts and does not compromise yields or conversion of the iridium-aquo complexes. Product characterization by <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry confirm successful conversion of the iridium chloride to the desired iridium aquo complex and the absence of any adventitious silver.

Silver-free synthesis of iridium-aquo complexes by heterogeneous solid-phase ion-exchange

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.