Unsymmetrically substituted iridium(III)-carbene complexes by a CH-activation process

The synthesis of a new type of Ir-(III)-carbene complexes, Cp*(L′)IrH⁺OTf^- (L′ = 1-(2-cyclohexenyl)-3-cyclohexylimidazolin-2-ylidene, OTf = OSO₂CF₃), based on the activation and subsequent functionalization of one cyclohexyl substituent at the N-heterocyclic carbene by a CH-activation/β-hydrogen migration process at the iridium(III) center was reported. The CH-activation/β-hydrogen migration process leads to the selective activation of one cyclohexyl ring at the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand.