Cationic Ir complex ([Ir(cod)2]BF4 + BINAP) catalyzed the addition of ortho-C–H bonds in arylketones to alkynes, which gave alkenylated products in good to high yield. Styrene derivatives were good substrates, and the enantioselective addition to norbornene was also described.
unit appended on the single-carbon linker, the ligand harbors an unusually rigid backbone that presumably stabilizes its complexation with transition metals during catalysis. Compared with the known dppm ligand, it exhibited superior reactivity and regioselectivity in a number of alkene hydrofunctionalization reactions, catalyzed by iridium and rhodium.