Iridafurans from the reaction of [Cp*IrCl2]2 with carbonyl conjugated terminal alkynes: Dependence of product on polarity of reaction medium

•[Cp*IrCl2]2 reacts with terminal alkynes containing a conjugated carbonyl group results in C–C bond formation.•The polarity of the reaction medium results in coupling of either two or three alkyne molecules.•Combined experimental and computational study of reaction pathway.

Reaction of the dimeric species [Cp*IrCl2]2 with terminal alkynes containing a conjugated carbonyl group results in C–C bond formation between two or three alkyne molecules, depending on the polarity of the reaction medium. The reaction pathway has been studied experimentally and computationally.

Graphical abstractReaction of the dimeric species [Cp*IrCl2]2 with terminal alkynes containing a conjugated carbonyl group results in C–C bond formation between two or three alkyne molecules, depending on the polarity of the reaction medium.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide