Facile C–N cleavage reactions of secondary and tertiary alkyl amines by P,O chelating rhodium and iridium complexes

The reactions of Cp*MCl(MDMPP-P,O) (1: M=Rh; 3: M=Ir; MDMPP-P,O=PPh2(C6H3-2-O-6-MeO)) with secondary or tertiary alkyl amine (R2NH or R3N) in the presence of KPF6 underwent a C–N cleavage of amine to afford primary amine complex [Cp*M(MDMPP-P,O) (RNH2)](PF6) (2: M=Rh; 4: M=Ir).