Hydrogenolysis of carbon–carbon σ-bonds using water catalysed by semi-rigid diiridium(iii) porphyrins

Semi-rigid diiridium(III) porphyrin alkyls with m-xylyl and p-xylyl diether linkers were synthesized. They were found to be catalysts for the carbon–carbon σ-bond hydrogenolysis of [2.2]paracyclophane under neutral conditions using water as the hydrogen source. The ether linkages in semi-rigid diiridium(III) porphyrins are unstable and undergo cleavage during the reaction.