Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 10/22/2025 - 13:41
My Notes
Description

This paper (J. Organomet. Chem. 2022, 965-966, 122317) describes the synthesis and reactivity of four-coordinate iridium compound with a tridentate ligand. This ligand is referred to in the paper as a pincer ligand which are a general class of tridentate ligands that coordinate in a mer- arrangement. More specifically, this is called a POCOP ligand with the P and C representing the atoms coordinating to the metal center and the O representing that there is an oxygen atom between the atoms that coordinate. The carbon atoms are ignored in this shorthand method. While there is certainly lots more that can be unpacked from this paper, Figure 2 is the focus of this literature discussion. Representations of equation 3 from the paper are included in the materials.

Attachment Size
Questions for students 46.57 KB
Questions for students 351.34 KB
Learning Goals

Through completing this literature discussion, students will be able to

  • Use the CBC electron counting method to classify two iridium compounds; determine the electron number, ligand bond number, metal valence, and dn count..
  • Use 1H NMR data (in particular that of metal hydrides) to distinguish between two isomers.
  • Use 1H NMR data to distinguish between a kinetic product and a thermodynamic product.
  • Rationalize the reasons for the formation of a kinetic product and thermodynamic product in this system. 
Implementation Notes

I am using variations of these questions on an upcoming exam. Hopefully I will report back on how it goes. I just thought it was just such a great little story to tell from one figure that I had to make it a 1FLO.

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