Aryl and Benzyl C–H Activation of N‑Substituted PNP Ligands

The synthesis of the N-aryl-substituted PNP pro-ligands H­(PN^naphP) (N-di­(2-diisopropyl­phosphine-4-methylphenyl)­naphthylamine) and H­(PN^tolP) (N-di­(2-diisopropylphosphine-4-methylphenyl)-o-tolylamine) is reported. The corresponding iridium­(III) complexes, [(PN^naphP)­Ir­(H)­Cl], [(o-methyl-PN^tolP)­Ir­(H)­Cl], [(o-aryl-PN^tolP)­Ir­(H)­Cl], [(PN^naphP)­Ir­(H)₂], [(o-methyl-PN^tolP)­Ir­(H)₂], and [(o-aryl-PN^tolP)­Ir­(H)₂], were also synthesized and structurally characterized, along with reaction intermediates, demonstrating various ligand coordination modes.