Silyl-pyridine-amine pincer-ligated iridium complexes for catalytic silane deuteration via room temperature C-D bond activation of benzene-d6.

Iridium-hydrido complexes bearing a hemilabile silyl-pyridine-amine pincer ligand were synthesised. They were found to catalyse Si-H deuteration of trialkylsilanes with excess benzene-d6 in 99-94% conversion at room temperature through C-D bond activation and H/D exchange.