Iridium complexes with functionalized triazolylidene ligands have shown attractive performance in catalyzing oxidation reactions such as water oxidation and in mediating C–H bond activation.^1,2 On the other hand, hydride systems are considered to be the key species for enhancing such bond activation.

Here we will discuss the synthetic aspects of a new family of iridium(III) complexes containing both a hydride and a mesoionic carbene ligand as potential catalyst precursors for application in bond activation catalysis.

[1]     M. D. Kärkäs , O. Verho, E. V. Johnston, B. Åkermark; Chem. Rev., 2014, 114, 11863.
[2]     J. A. Woods, S. Bernhard, M. Albrecht; Molecular Water Oxidation Catalysis, 2014, John  Wiley & Sons, Ltd, p. 113.