Formation of Indanone from an Iridanaphthalene Complex

The first example of evolution of an iridanaphthalene into an indanone through an intermediate indenyl is reported, serving as a good example of starting material to obtain indanones. Two new iridanaphthalenes are obtained by intramolecular C–H activation of a phenyl ring of a carbene ligand in [IrCp*{═C(OMe)CH═CPh2}(L)]PF6 (L = PPh2Me, PMe3) complexes. It is demonstrated that these iridanaphthalene complexes can undergo a thermal reaction to give indenyl complexes and 3-phenylindanone.