Pincer (Phebox)Ir(mesityl)(OAc) (2) (Phebox = 3,5-dimethylphenyl-2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)) complex, formed by benzylic C-H activation of mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) using (Phebox)Ir(OAc)2OH2 (1), was treated with thionyl chloride to rapidly form 1-(chloromethyl)-3,5-dimethylbenzene in 50% yield at 23 °C. A green species was obtained at the end of reaction, which decomposed during flash column chromatography to form (Phebox)IrCl2OH2 in 87% yield.
Keywords: chlorination; iridium mesityl; phebox ligand; pincer complex; thionyl chloride.