Structure and reactivity of a pyridine-1-imido-2-thiolato complex of iridium(III), CpIr(1-N-2-Spy), generated by photolysis of the (azido)(pyridine-2-thiolato) complex, CpIr(2-Spy)(N3).

Photolysis of the (azido)(pyridine-2-thiolato)iridium(III) complex CpIr(2-Spy)(N3) (1) gave a pyridine-1-imido-2-thiolato complex, CpIr(1-N-2-Spy) (2), in which one of the nitrogen atoms of the azide ligand has been inserted into the Ir-N(py) bond (Cp = eta5-C5Me5). Complex 2 reacted quantitatively with methyl iodide to give the N-methylated product, [CpIr(1-NMe-2-Spy)]I (3). X-ray crystallography revealed that both 2 and 3 have similar two-legged piano stool structures with planar 1-N-2-Spy2- or 1-NMe-2-Spy- ligands, which form iridacyclopentadienyl-like rings by moderate S(ppi)/N(ppi) to Ir(dpi) pi donation.