μ-Oxido-bis[hydridotris(trimethylphosphane-κP)iridium(III)](Ir—Ir) bis(tetrafluoridoborate) dihydrate

Abstract

The title compound, [Ir2H2O(C3H9P)6](BF4)2·2H2O, was isolated from the reaction between [Ir(COD)(PMe3)3]BF4 and H2 in water (COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene). The asymmetric unit consists of one IrIII atom bonded to three PMe3 groups, one hydride ligand and half an oxide ligand, in addition to a BF4− counter-ion and one water molecule of hydration. The single oxide ligand bridging two IrIII atoms is disordered across an inversion center with each O atom having a 50% site occupancy. Each IrIII atom has three PMe3 groups occupying facial positions, with the half-occupancy O atoms, a hydride ligand and an Ir—Ir bond completing the coordination sphere. The Ir—Ir distance is 2.8614 (12) Å, comparable to other iridium(III) metal–metal bonds. Two water molecules hydrogen bond to two BF4− anions in the unit cell.