First metallacarborane ethene complex [1,8-Me2-2,2-(C2H4)2-7-SMe2-2,1,8-IrC2B9H8] and its reaction with iodine

•Reaction of [(C2H4)2IrCl]2 with Tl[9-SMe2-7,8-Me2-7,8-C2B9H8] proceeds with a low temperature polyhedral rearrangement in carborane ligand.•Interaction of ethene complex 1 with iodine results in a loss of the two ethene molecules and formation of ionic iodide 3 (3a+3b−).•Complex 3 formed by demethylation of SMe2 group in 3a+I− with iodide anion and subsequent reorganization of organometallic frameworks.

Metallacarborane [1,8-Me2-2,2-(C2H4)2-7-SMe2-2,1,8-IrC2B9H8] (1) was obtained by an interaction of [(C2H4)2IrCl]2 with Tl[9-SMe2-7,8-Me2-7,8-C2B9H8]. Reaction proceeds with a low temperature “1,2 → 1,7” polyhedral rearrangement. Ethene complex 1 reacts with iodine in toluene with the formation of ionic compound 3, consisting of cationic [(1,8-Me2-7-SMe2-2,1,8-IrC2B9H8)2I3]+ (3a+) and anionic [(1,8-Me2-7-SMe-2,1,8-IrC2B9H8)2I3]− (3b–) iodide species. The structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray diffraction.

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