[IrCp*(NCMe)2(PPh2Me)][PF6]2 as Catalyst for the Meyer-Schuster Rearrangement of Arylpropargylic Alcohols under Mild Conditions

The novel iridium complex [IrCp*(NCMe)2(PPh2Me)][PF6]2 (I) efficiently catalyzed the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of selected arylpropargylic alcohols into alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes under mild conditions and without the need of a cocatalyst. A mechanism involving a (hydroxy)alkenylcarbene intermediate is proposed.