Interaction of 2-(2′,6′-dialkylphenylazo)-4-methylphenols with iridium. C-H activation and migration of alkyl group

Reaction of 2-(2′,6′-diethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol (L2) with [Ir(PPh3)3Cl] afforded two organoiridium complexes 3 and 4 via C-H bond activation of an ethyl group in the arylazo fragment of the L2 ligand. A similar reaction of [Ir(PPh3)3Cl] with 2-(2′,6′-diisopropylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol (L3) yielded another organoiridium complex 5, where migration of one iso-propyl group from its original location (say, the 2′ position) to the corresponding third position (say, the 4′ position) took place through C-C bond activation.