Abstract:The reaction of complex [Ir(H) 2 (NCCH 3 ) 3 (P-i-Pr 3 )]BF 4 (1) with excess of 1-alkynes such as t-BuC CH and PhC CH gave the butadiene compounds Ir[h 4 -(R) 2 C 4 H 4 ](NCCH 3 ) 2 (P-iPr 3 )}BF 4 (R t-Bu, 5; R Ph, 6). Compound 5 was obtained as a single isomer containing a 1,3-disubstituted butadiene ligand, whereas 6 was formed as a 7:1 mixture of isomers containing 1,3-and 1,4-disubstituted butadienes, respectively. Spectroscopic observations showed alkenyl hydride reaction intermediates, consistent with a double insertion/C-C coupling sequence. Complexes 5 and 6 were found to react with dihydrogen to give 1 and alkenes resulting from the partial hydrogenation of the butadiene moieties. This dimerization/hydrogenation sequence has been found to be the major reaction of t-BuC CH under conditions of homogeneous hydrogenation whereas that of PhC CH produced styrene and ethylbenzene as major products. Similar selectivity was observed for these hydrogenations using organic/ionic liquid biphasic conditions with toluene/ BMIM ¥ BF 4 , suggesting reaction mechanisms similar to those operating under homogeneous conditions. This conclusion is also supported by the spectroscopic observation of alkenyl hydride intermediates during the formation of 6 in BMIM ¥ BF 4 as solvent.