Polyoxoanions as soluble metal oxide analogs. 5. Synthesis and characterization of polyoxoanion-supported, atomically dispersed iridium(I), (1,5-COD)Ir.cntdot.P2W15Nb3O628-

The preparation and characterization of (Bu{sub 4}N{sub 5})Na{sub 3}(1,5-COD)Ir P{sub 2}W{sub 15}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 62} are reported herein. This complex serves as an excellent precursor to an active and long-lived hydrogenation catalyst. Concurrent efforts in three areas, in polyoxoanion synthesis and characterization, in catalysis, and in kinetic and mechanistic studies probing the central issue of whether or not polyoxoanion-iridium bonding remains intact during catalysis led to the discovery of the subject complex. 18 refs., 3 figs.