Abstract
Five coordinated water-soluble iridium(l) complex, IrH(CO)(TPPTS)3 (1) (TPPTS = P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3-xH2O) has been prepared from the reaction of IrCl3·3H2O with TPPTS and HCHO in H2O/EtOH solution. Complex 1 catalyzes the hydration of nitrites (RC ≡ N, R = CH3, CICH2, CH3(CH2)4, Ph) in aqueous solution to give the corresponding amides (RCONH2) at 100℃. The hydration of unsaturated nitrites (R'C ≡ N, R'=CH3CH=CH, CH3OCH=CH, trans-PhCH=CH, CH2=C(CH3)) takes place regioselectively on-C ≡ N group to give unsaturated amides (R'CONH2) leaving the olefinic group intact. The yields of the amides seem to be depending on the electrophilicity of the carbon of nitrile: The more the electron withdrawing ability of the substituents on nitrites, the more amides are obtained. The hydration of dinitriles (NC-R-CN, R=(CH2)4, (CH2)6) with complex 1 initially gives mono-hydration products (NC-R-CONH2) which are slowly hydrated further to give dihydration products (H2NCO-R-CONH2). The hydration of 1,4-dicyanobutane has been found to be somewhat faster than that of 1,6-dicyanohexane.