A heterobinuclear transition metal complex
with a Ta−Ir multiple bond, Cp*(Me3SiCH2)2Ta−IrCp*(H)2
(1), was synthesized using a salt elimination reaction. The
isolable complex was characterized by NMR, IR, UV−vis
spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 features
an exceptionally short intermetallic distance (Ta−Ir 2.4457(3)
Å). DFT calculation for 1 revealed the presence of a highly
covalent bonding nature in spite of the involvement of such
disparate d elements. Oxidative additions of C−H, N−H, and O−H bonds to 1 were also investigated.