SnCl2 insertion into Ir–Cl and Rh–Cl bonds: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of three-legged piano-stool trichlorostannyl iridium and rhodium complexes

Facile insertion reaction of SnCl2 across pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes of Ir(III) and Rh(III) resulted in the formation of Ir–SnCl3 and Rh–SnCl3 heterobimetallic complexes. Treatment of SnCl2 with [Cp*IrCl2]2 and [Cp*Ir(NH2tBu)Cl2] afforded [Cp*Ir(SnCl3)2{SnCl2(H2O)2}] (1) and [Cp*Ir(SnCl3)3][NH3tBu] (3), respectively. Similarities in NMR data for complexes 1 and 3 suggested that complex 1 converts to anionic [Cp*Ir(SnCl3)3] species in...