Alkane C-H Activation and Catalysis by an O-Donor Ligated Iridium Complex.

Catalysts based on the C-H bond activation reaction show potential for the development of new, selective, hydrocarbon oxidation chemistry. A central consideration in the design of such C-H activation based catalysts is the choice of ligands. The ligands generally acceptable for C-H activation reactions range from C-donor. This article demonstrates that well-defined, late-metal, oxygen-ligated (O-ligated) complexes are competent for alkane C-H bond activation, exhibit high thermal and protic stability, and are efficient catalysts for H/D exchange reactions with alkanes. Authors of this article are currently investigating the oxidative functionalization of O-donor M-R complexes and new O-donor complexes that activate C-H bonds.