Iridium complexes, process for their preparation and their use

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Compounds of general formula I or Ia, or mixtures thereof wherein the groups P-L-P are a ligand from the group comprising diphosphine and diphosphinite in which the secondary, phosphine groups or phosphinite groups P are coupled via 2 to 4 C atoms and which form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring with the Ir atoms X, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6 independently of the others are Cl Br or I, or X1 and, X6 are H and X2 , X3 X4 and X5 independently of the others are Cl Br or, I, or X1 and X5 are H and X2, X3 X4 and X6 independently of the others, are Cl Br or I, and M~ is an alkali metal cation or quaternary ammonium. The compounds are suitable as homogeneous catalysts for the (preferably) asymmetric …