Regioselective cyclotrimerization of phenylacetylenes to 1,2,4-triarylbenzenes catalyzed by iridium–diphosphine complexes

The organoiridium derivatives HIr(cod)(P-P) (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene; P-P=dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), dppb (1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane)) catalyze the regioselective cyclotrimerization of phenylacetylene as well as of its derivatives p-CH3OC6H4CCH and p-CF3C6H4CCH. The catalytic activity of the precursors as well as the selectivity towards formation of the 1,2,4-triarylbenzenes (up to 100%) are influenced by the diphosphine, and both increase by decreasing the size of the phosphine–iridium chelate ring.