Some new results regarding the reaction of potassium hexachloroiridate(IV) with N,N′-dimethylpiperazine and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine

Aqueous potassium hexachloroiridate(IV) is almost instantaneously reduced to hexachloroidate(II) by an excess of either N,N,Nt́,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine or N,N′-dimethyl-piperazine at room temperature. On storage of such reaction mixtures, the hexachloiridate(III) undergoes slow aquation and/or hydrolysis. No evidence was found for Mann and Watson's dichloro, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine iridium(II) or dichloro, N,N′-dimethylpiperazine iridium(II) complexes. The previously reported Cs2[Ir(H2O)Cl5] appears to be Cs2[Ir(H2O)Cl5]·H2O.