title: Selective Arene Cleavage by Direct Insertion of Iridium into the Aromatic Ring.
abstract: We report an unprecedented selective cleavage of aromatic C-C bonds through the insertion of well-defined iridium complexes into the aromatic ring of simple alkylarenes. The insertion occurs at 50-100 °C without the activation of weaker C-H and C-C bonds and gives unique metallacycles in high yields. Key to the success of this approach is metal-induced deformation of the arene ring, which creates temporary ring strain and promotes direct and selective insertion of the metal into the otherwise inert arene ring C-C bonds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6181-4839
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakoobi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster, 2LA1 4YB, UK.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6831-9681
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Halcovitch
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
authors.forename: George F S
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Alexey G
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1587-2517
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sergeev
keywords: C−C activation; arenes; iridium; metal-metal interactions; η4-arene complexes