Reaction of the dimers [(Cp*MCl)
2
(μ-Cl)
2
] (Cp* = η
5
-C
5
Me
5
)
with Ph
2
PCH
2
CH
2
NC(NH(
p
-Tolyl))
2
(
H
2
L
) in the presence
of NaSbF
6
affords the chlorido complexes [Cp*MCl(κ
2
N
,
P
-
H
2
L
)][SbF
6
] (M = Rh,
1
; Ir,
2
).
Upon treatment with aqueous NaOH, solutions of
1
and
2
yield the corresponding complexes [Cp*M(κ
3
N
,
N′
,
P
-
HL
)][SbF
6
] (M = Rh,
3
; Ir,
4
) in which the ligand
HL
presents a
fac
κ
3
N
,
N′
,
P
coordination mode. Treatment of THF solutions
of complexes
3
and
4
with hydrogen gas,
at room temperature, results in the formation of the metal hydrido-complexes
[Cp*MH(κ
2
N
,
P
-
H
2
L
)][SbF
6
] (M = Rh,
5
;
Ir,
6
) in which the N(
p
-Tolyl) group
has been protonated. Complexes
3
and
4
react
with deuterated water in a reversible fashion resulting in the gradual
deuteration of the Cp* group. Heating at 383 K THF/H
2
O
solutions of the complexes
3
and
4
affords
the orthometalated complexes [Cp*M(κ
3
C
,
N
,
P
-
H
2
L
-H
)][SbF
6
] [M = Rh,
7
; Ir,
8
,
H
2
L
-H
= Ph
2
PCH
2
CH
2
NC(NH(
p
-Tolyl))(NH(4-C
6
H
3
Me))], respectively. At 333 K, complexes
3
and
4
react in THF with methanol, primary alcohols,
or 2-propanol giving the metal-hydrido complexes
5
and
6
, respectively. The reaction involves the acceptorless dehydrogenation
of the alcohols at a relatively low temperature, without the assistance
of an...