The highly active Friedel-Crafts alkylation (FCA) catalyst, [Ir(COD)Cl(SnCl3)(SnCl4)(arene)]+Cl- (1-SnCl4), is easily generated in one-pot from [Ir(COD)Cl]2 or [Ir(COD)(mu-Cl)Cl(SnCl3)]2 (1) and SnCl4. The reaction of arenes, heteroarenes with benzyl, and allyl alcohols is promoted by 1-SnCl4 (1 mol %) with high turnover frequency. Kinetic evidence is presented to establish FCA pattern. From dual-catalyst combination studies varying the transition metal and main group metal partner, the efficiency of the present catalysts is attributed to the electrophilic "IrIII-SnIV" core.

Reactions of arenes and heteroarenes with aromatic aldehydes proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic combination of [Ir(COD)Cl]2-SnCl4 to afford the corresponding triarylmethane derivatives (TRAMs) in high yields. This 100% TRAM selective transformation is clean and eliminates the use of acid systems.

A highly efficient secondary benzylation procedure has been demonstrated using a high-valent heterobimetallic complex [Ir2(COD)2(SnCl3)2(Cl)2(mu-Cl)2] 1 as the catalyst in 1,2-dichloroethane to afford the corresponding benzylated products in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction was performed not only with carbon nucleophiles (arenes and heteroarenes) but also with oxygen (alcohol), nitrogen (amide and sulfonamide), and sulfur (thiol) nucleophiles. Mechanistic investigation showed the intermediacy of the ether in this reaction. An electrophilic mechanism is proposed from Hammett correlation.

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A catalytic combination of [Ir(COD)Cl] 2 -SnCl 4 efficiently promotes the reactions of arenes and heteroarenes with 1°/2°/3° benzyl alcohols as the alkylating agents to afford the corresponding diarylmethane and triarylmethane derivatives in high yields. The scope and limitation of the reaction with respect to catalyst and substrates variation has been studied in detail.

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Selective benzylations and allylations of aromatics with both symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers catalyzed by Ir/Sn catalyst systems are carried out. The process is completely selective with respect to benzyl and allyl transfer. Similar results are obtained under conditions A) and B). -(PODDER, S.; ROY*, S.; Tetrahedron 63 (2007) 37, 9146-9152; Dep. Chem., Indian Inst. Technol., Kharagpur 721 302, India; Eng.) -Bartels 04-088

Reaction in the presence of Ir2Cl2(cod)2/SnCl4 results in efficient and selective formation of triarylmethane derivatives. The conversion of aliphatic aldehydes is also possible but the yields of the corresponding diarylalkanes are low to moderate. -(PODDER, S.; CHOUDHURY, J.; ROY, U. K.; ROY*, S.; J.