carolp1290

Thank you for your help, but what I actually need is more of a step-by-step description of the reactions which produce Vaska's complex. Like, it undergoes ligand substitution, insertion, reductive elimination, etc. Any other suggestions?

Hello all, I'm in organometallic chem right now, and this question is on our new problem set: The rxn of IrCl3 with EtOH produces trans-Ir(PPh3)2(CO)Cl aka Vaska's copmlex along with 2HCL and CH4. When isotopically labeled ethanol is used (CH3CH2OH), the carbonyl ligand is fully enriched in 13-C. Provide a mechanism. Do not worry about the degree of solvation or PPh3 coordination at each step. IrCl3 + 2 PPh3 ---Ethanol---> Vaska's Complex I talked to my professor this afternoon, and he was somewhat helpful, but I'm still having problems. He said to remember that the starting Ir complex dissociates in polar solvent, so there would be constant ligand exchange (thus the "don't worry about PPh3 coordination"). This is some sort of solvolysis, but I can't figure out how. I think the mechanism is something involving reductive elimination. Please help if you can!