Reaction of [{Ir(µ-Cl)(cod)} 2 ] with the short-bite bifunctional N,P-donor ligand (1-benzyl-2-imidazolyl)diphenylphosphine (Ph 2 PBzIm) gives the yellow complex [IrCl(Ph 2 PBzIm)(cod)] (2). A further addition of [{Ir(µ-Cl)(cod)} 2 ] to 2 results in the reversible metalation of a phenyl ring across two unbonded iridium centers to give orange crystals of [IrCl(cod){µ-PPh(C 6 H 4 )-BzIm}IrHCl(cod)] (1). Complex 1 is in equilibrium with the mononuclear complex [IrCl(Ph 2 -PBzIm)(cod)] and the active species undergoing the sp 2 -C-H activation, [{IrCl(cod)} 2 (µ-Ph 2 PBzIm)], in solution. Abstraction of one chloride ligand from 1 with AgBF 4 produces the deinsertion of the C-H bond yielding the cationic complex [{Ir(cod)} 2 (µ-Ph 2 PBzIm)(µ-Cl)]-BF 4 , which regenerates 1 upon addition of a chloride-soluble salt. The cationic complex [{Ir-(cod)} 2 (µ-Ph 2 PBzIm)(µ-Cl)]BF 4 is inactive for the above-mentioned sp 2 -C-H bond activation and can be prepared alternatively from the reaction of 2 with [Ir(cod)(CH 3 CN) 2 ]BF 4 . A related binuclear sp 2 -C-H bond activation across two unbonded metals also occurs in the reaction of dppm with [{Ir(µ-Cl)(cod)} 2 ] in a 1:1 molar ratio. This reaction leads to a mixture in equilibrium of [{IrCl(cod)} 2 (µ-dppm)] and the hydride complex [IrCl(cod){µ-PPh(C 6 H 4 )CH 2 -PPh 2 )}IrHCl(cod)] in a 1.5:1 molar ratio, respectively, in dichloromethane at 20 °C. The structure of the mixed-valence complex 1 was solved by X-ray diffraction studies. Scheme 1 Scheme 2

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The reactions of [[M(mu-OMe)(cod)](2)] (M = Rh, Ir; cod = 1,5- cyclooctadiene) with p-tolylamine, alpha-naphthylamine, and p-nitroaniline gave complexes with mixed-bridging ligands, [[M(cod)](2)(mu-NHAr)(mu-OMe)]. Similarly, the related complexes [[Rh(cod)](2)(mu-NHAr)(mu-OH)] were prepared from the reactions of [[Rh(mu-OH)(cod)](2)] with p-tolylamine, alpha-naphthylamine, and p-nitroaniline. The reactions of [[Rh(mu-OR)(cod)](2)] (R = H, Me) with o-nitroaniline gave the mononuclear complex [Rh(o-NO(2)C(6)H(4)NH)(cod)]. The syntheses of the amido complexes involve a proton exchange reaction from the amines to the methoxo or hydroxo ligands and the coordination of the amide ligand. These reactions were found to be reversible for the dinuclear complexes. The structure of [[Rh(cod)](2)(mu-NH[p-NO(2)C(6)H(4)])(mu-OMe)] shows two edge-shared square-planar rhodium centers folded at the edge with an anti configuration of the bridging ligands. The complex [[Rh(cod)](2)(mu-NH[alpha-naphthyl])(mu-OH)] cocrystallizes with [[Rh(mu-OH)(cod)](2)] and THF, forming a supramolecular aggregate supported by five hydrogen bridges in the solid state. In the mononuclear [Rh(o-NO(2)C(6)H(4)NH)(cod)] complex the o-nitroamido ligand chelates the rhodium center through the amido nitrogen and an oxygen of the nitro group.

Treatment of the organoamido complexes [Rh(2)(mu-4-HNC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(L(2))(2)] (L(2) = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), L = CO) with nBuLi gave solutions of the organoimido species [Li(2)Rh(2)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(L(2))(2)]. Further reaction of [Li(2)Rh(2)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(cod)(2)] with [Rh(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(cod)(2)] afforded the neutral tetranuclear complex [Rh(4)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(cod)(4)] (2), which rationalizes the direct syntheses of 2 from [Rh(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(cod)(2)] and Li(2)NC(6)H(4)Me. Reactions of [Li(2)Rh(2)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(CO)(4)] with chloro complexes such as [Rh(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(CO)(4)], [MCl(2)(cod)] (M = Pd, Pt), and [Ru(2)(mu-Cl)(2)Cl(2)(p-cymene)(2)] afforded the homo- and heterotrinuclear complexes PPN[Rh(3)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(CO)(6)] (5; PPN=bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium), [(CO)(4)Rh(2)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)M(cod)] (M = Pd (6), Pt(7)) and [(CO)(4)Rh(2)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)Ru(p-cymene)] (8), while the reaction with [AuCl(PPh(3))] gave the tetranuclear compound [(CO)(4)Rh(2)(mu--4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)[Au(PPh(3))](2)] (9). The structures of complexes 6, 8, and 9 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The anion of 5 reacts with [AuCl(PPh(3))] to give the butterfly cluster [[Rh(3)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(CO)(6)]Au(PPh(3))] (10), in which the Au atom is bonded to two rhodium atoms. Reaction of the anion of 5 with [Rh(cod)(NCMe)(2)](BF(4)) gave the tetranuclear complex [Rh(4)(mu-4-NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(CO)(6)(cod)] (11) in which the Rh(cod) fragment is pi-bonded to one of the arene rings, while the reaction of the anion of 5 with [PdCl(2)(cod)] afforded the heterotrinuclear complex 6 through a metal exchange process.

The pyrazolato (Pz) rhodium(I) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(CO)(L)}(2)] (L = CNBu(t), P(OMe)(3), PMe(2)Ph, P(OPh)(3), P(p-tolyl)(3)) result from the reaction of [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(CO)(2)}(2)] with the appropriate L ligand in a trans:cis ratio ranging from 60:40 (L = CNBu(t)) to 95:5 (L = P(p-tolyl)(3)). The pure trans isomers add 1 molar equiv of diiodine to give the dirhodium(II) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)] (L = CNBu(t) (6), P(OMe)(3) (7), PMe(2)Ph (8), P(OPh)(3) (9)). These complexes incorporate two iodide ligands trans to the rhodium-rhodium bond, as substantiated by the X-ray structure for 7, while the complex [(P{p-tolyl}(3))(CO)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)(&mgr;-CO)Rh(I)(P{p-tolyl}(3))] (10) contains a bridging ketonic CO ligand, due to the insertion of a terminal CO into the metal-metal bond. The metal-metal bond formation involves a 2e oxidation, since identical compounds (6-9) are obtained by oxidation with [Fe(Cp)(2)](PF(6)) followed by addition of potassium iodide. Further reactions of the dirhodium(II) complexes 6-9 with diiodine leading to the metal-metal rupture are electrophilic additions, as exemplified by the reactions with the positive iodine complex [I(Py)(2)](+). They start at the "endo site" (the metal-metal bond) if it is sterically accessible to the electrophile, to give directly the dirhodium(III) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) (L = CNBu(t), CO). Otherwise, as for the complexes with P-donor ligands, abstraction of a iodide ligand trans to the metal-metal bond (the "exo site") occurs first, to give the dirhodium(II) cationic complexes [(PR(3))(CO)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)Rh(CO)(PR(3))](+) and triiodide. These react again with diiodine to give dirhodium(III) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) similar to those described above, but with triiodide or pentaiodide as counterion, as substantiated by the X-ray structure of [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PMe(2)Ph)}(2)(&mgr;-I)]I(5) (18). The diiridium(II) complexes [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)] (PR(3) = P(OPh)(3), PMe(2)Ph) also react with diiodine to give the cationic diiridium(III) complexes [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)(&mgr;-I)]I(3) through a reaction pathway involving the "exo site", while no reaction is observed for [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(2)}(2)]. Finally, replacement of a carbonyl ligand in [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) (L = CNBu(t), CO) by iodide gives the compounds [(CO)(L)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)(&mgr;-I)Rh(I)(2)(L)].