Iridium complexes phosphine hydrides

Phosphinite pincer iridium systems have also been shown to have a lower tendency to oxidatively add TEE to give (vinyl)(hydride) complexes similar to 3 [18]. While this has been identified as one of the major catalyst deactivation processes in phosphine pincer iridium catalysis, apparently with complexes such as 5, only olefin coordination can occur. However, this is a considerably weaker bonding and is less detrimental to catalyst activity. Eased on steric arguments, product olefin coordination (e.g. COE) is favored over TEE coordination, and therefore at a high TON and high product concentrations the phosphinite catalysts 5 are markedly less active than the phosphine analogues 1. 

---