Reversible P–P bond cleavage at an iridium(iii) metal centre

Treatment of a κ¹-P-monodentate bicyclic diphosphane iridium(III) complex with a labile gold(I) precursor afforded an unusual Ir^III/Au^I complex in which the P–P single bond has been cleaved. This reaction was cleanly reversed upon addition of tertiary phosphine. Carbon–carbon bond activation, across neighbouring P₂C₂N rings of the coordinated bicyclic diphosphane, occurred upon thermolysis of the Ir^III/Au^I complex.