Iodide [(η5-indenyl)IrI2]n: an effective precursor to (indenyl)iridium sandwich complexes

The reactions of [(η⁵-indenyl)IrI₂]_η with CpTl or arenes in the presence of AgBF₄ afford [(η⁵-indenyl)IrCp]⁺ or [(η⁵-indenyl)Ir(arene)]²⁺ cations (arene = benzene, mesitylene, durene or hexamethylbenzene); the structures of (η⁵-indenyl)-Ir(C₂H₄)₂ and [(η⁵-indenyl)IrCp]PF₆ were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.