Csp 3 -H Activation without Chelation Assistance in an Iridium Pincer Complex Forming Cyclometallated Products.

Cyclometallation of 8-methylquinoline and 2-(dimethylamino)-pyridine in an iridium-based pincer complex is described. The C-H activation of 2-(dimethylamino)pyridine is not chelation assisted, which has not been described before for Csp3 -H bonds in cyclometallation reactions. The mechanism of the cyclometallation of 2-(dimethylamino)pyridine was studied by DFT calculations and kinetic measurements.