The synthesis and catalytic activity of the iridium(I) hydroquinone complex [(H2Q)Ir(COD)]+

The η6-hydroquinone iridium complex [(η6-H2Q)Ir(COD)]BF4 undergoes facile double deprotonation to the η4-quinone anionic analogue. The latter has been shown to be the first example of an iridium complex that catalyzes 1,4 conjugate addition reactions of aryl boronic acids to electron deficient olefins.