Alkoxy/siloxy group exchange in the system vinyltrialkoxysilane–iridium(I) siloxide complex

A study of reactions of dimeric siloxide iridium complex, [{(cod)Ir(mu-OSiMe3)}2] (1) with vinyltriethoxysilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane has revealed a new type of the reaction—alkoxy group transfer from silicon to iridium with a simultaneous transfer of a siloxy group from iridium to silicon—as a result of which vinyldialkoxytrimethyldisiloxane and dimeric alkoxide iridium complex [{(cod)Ir(mu-OR)}2] (3) are formed. The structure of [{(cod)Ir(mu-OEt)}2] (3a) has been solved by X-ray diffraction.