The structure of [Ir2(CO)2(μ-H)(μ-CO)(Ph2PCH2PPh2)2][BF4] and comparisons with its rhodium analogue and other related doubly bridged A-frames
The structure of [Ir2(CO)2(μ-H)(μ-CO)(DPM)2][BF4] (DPM = Ph2PCH2PPh2) has been determined crystallographically. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n (a = 13.7740(6) Å, b = 15.277(2) Å, c = 23.581(2) Å, β = 97.015(5)°, V = 4924.9 Å3, Z = 4) and on the basis of 6628 unique observations and variation of 272 parameters, the structure converged to R = 0.031 and Rw = 0.043. This metal–metal bonded complex is similar to its rhodium analogue, having the two essentially identical Ir centres bridged by the carbonyl, hydride, and two diphosphine ligands. The major difference between this compound and the rhodium species (in the solid state) relates to the orientation of the phenyl groups of the diphosphine ligands; in the iridium complex four of these groups block the sites adjacent to the bridging hydride ligand, whereas these sites are relatively unobstructed in the rhodium analogue. This difference may result in different coordination sites for substrate molecules and therefore in different chemistry.