Iridium Complexes That Break Bonds and Add Oxygen

A new set of iridium compounds was made by removing a methyl group from older ionic versions. These neutral pieces, called 3 and 4, have a big ring of carbon atoms and a side group that can be chlorine or iodine. Scientists used them to build strange mixed‑metal structures that combine iridium with zinc and sometimes ruthenium. When 3 or 4 were heated, they broke C‑X bonds where X was a halogen.This reaction produced products that carried an oxygen atom attached to the former methyl spot. At the same time, the original iridium‑chlorine link was swapped for a new halogen bond. The researchers watched both changes closely to learn how the bonds split and re‑form. Their work shows that these iridium complexes can do two tricks at once: cleave a carbon‑halogen bond and install oxygen. Such dual activity could help make new materials or catalysts with useful properties.