Complexes [Ir(μ-Cl)(η 2-C 8 H 14) 2 ] 2 (1) and [Ir(μ-Cl)(η 4-C 8 H 12)] 2 (2) promote the pyridyl-directed ortho-CH and ortho-CBr activations of the phenyl substituent of 2-(2-bromophenyl)pyridine. The formed products depend upon the olefin of the dimer, which governs the kinetic preference of the activation. The cyclooctene complex 1 reacts with the substituted heterocycle to give (η 2-C 8 H 14) 2 Ir(μ-Cl) 2 Ir{κ 2-C,N-[C 6 BrH 3-py]} 2 (3), in acetone, at room temperature. Treatment of 3 with K(acac) affords Ir(acac)(η 2-C 8 H 14) 2 (4) and Ir(acac){κ 2-C,N-[C 6 BrH 3-py]} 2 (5; acac = acetylacetone). Under more severe conditions, 2-ethoxyethanol under reflux, the reaction of 1 with the heterocycle gives a yellow solid, which yields a 5:82:7 mixture of 5, Ir(acac){κ 2-C,N-[C 6 BrH 3-py]}{κ 2-C,N-[C 6 H 4-py]} (6), and Ir(acac){κ 2-C,N-[C 6 H 4-py]} 2 (7) by reaction with K(acac). In acetone or toluene, at room temperature, 2-(2-bromophenyl)pyridine breaks the chloride bridges of dimer 2 to form IrCl(η 4-C 8 H 12){κ 1-N-[py-C 6 BrH 4 ]} (8), which evolves into IrClBr{κ 2-C,N-[C 6 H 4-py]}(η 4-C 8 H 12) (9) as a result of the oxidative addition of the ortho-CBr of the phenyl substituent to the metal center. Treatment of 9 with Ag 2 O in acetylacetone leads to Ir(acac){κ 2-C,N-[C 6 H 4-py]}{κ 1-C, η 2-[C 8 H 12-(C 3-acac)]} (10), as a consequence of the replacement of the halides by an O,O-chelate acac ligand and the outside to metal nucleophilic attack of a second acac group to the diene C−C double bond disposed trans to bromide.