An iridium N-heterocyclic carbene complex [IrCl(CO)2(NHC)] as a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CORM)

NHC complexes of rhodium and iridium were prepared for applications in bioorganometallic chemistry. The reactivity of [Ir(N3)(COD)(NHC)] towards alkynes in iClick reactions was explored while [IrCl(CO)2(NHC)] was investigated as a CO-releasing molecule. Ligand-exchange triggered CO release occurred rapidly on a short timescale while photoactivation did not have any additional effect.160