Iridium-catalyzed cascade dehydrogenation, ring-closure reaction leading to 2,4,6-triaryl-1,3,5-triazines

An efficient iridium-catalyzed dehydrogenation, ring-closure reaction, has been developed via a cascade sequence, in which [Cp*IrI2](2)/Xantphos proved to be the most efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2,4,6-triaryl-1,3,5-triazines from stable aryl-substituted alcohols and amidines. It was the first case of iridium catalyst successful application in such transformation.