Iridium-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Conjugated Dienes via π-Allyliridium Intermediates

A hydroxoiridium/cod complex efficiently catalyzed hydroarylation of conjugated dienes with arenes bearing an acidic N-H bond as a directing group, which can form an amidoiridium species as an active intermediate for C-H activation. A pi-allyliridium(III) complex was isolated as a key intermediate leading to the addition product.