Metal complexes incorporating
proton-responsive ligands have been
proved to be superior catalysts in reactions involving the H
2
molecule. In this contribution, a series of Ir
III
complexes
based on lutidine-derived CNN
H
pincers containing N-heterocyclic
carbene and secondary amino NHR [R = Ph (
4a
),
t
Bu (
4b
), benzyl (
4c
)] donors
as flanking groups have been synthesized and tested in the dehydrogenation
of ammonia–borane (NH
3
BH
3
, AB) in the
presence of substoichiometric amounts (2.5 equiv) of
t
BuOK. These preactivated derivatives are efficient catalysts in AB
dehydrogenation in THF at room temperature, albeit significantly different
reaction rates were observed. Thus, by using 0.4 mol % of
4a
, 1.0 equiv of H
2
per mole of AB was released
in 8.5 min (turnover frequency (TOF
50%
) = 1875 h
–1
), while complexes
4b
and
4c
(0.8 mol %)
exhibited lower catalytic activities (TOF
50%
= 55–60
h
–1
).
4a
is currently the best performing
Ir
III
homogeneous catalyst for AB dehydrogenation. Kinetic
rate measurements show a zero-order dependence with respect to AB,
and first order with the catalyst in the dehydrogenation with
4a
(−d[AB]/d
t
=
k
[
4a
]). Conversely, the reaction with
4b
is second order in AB and first order in the catalyst (−d[AB]/d
t
=
k
[
4b
][AB]
2
).
Moreover, the reactions of the derivatives
4a
and
4b
with an excess of
t
BuOK (2.5 equiv) have
been analyzed through NMR spectroscopy. For the former precursor,
formation of the iridate
5
was observed as a result of
a double deprotonation at the amine and the NHC pincer arm. In marked
contrast, in the case of
4b
, a monodeprotonated (at the
pincer NHC-arm) species
6
is observed upon reaction with
t
BuOK. Complex
6
is capable of activating H
2
reversibly to yield the trihydride derivative
7
. Finally, DFT calculations of the first AB dehydrogenation step
catalyzed by
5
has been performed at the DFT//MN15 level
of theory in order to get information on the predominant metal–ligand
cooperation mode.