Abstract
[Image: see text] Pushing the Nazarov Envelope A new electrophilic complex [IrBr(CO)(diethylisopropylidene malonate)((R)-(+)-BINAP)](SbF(6))(2) (2) exhibits unusual activity in the catalysis of polarized Nazarov cyclization. Aryl vinyl ketones that show poor reactivity with well-known catalysts such as [Ir(CH(3))(CO)(1,2-diiodobenzene)(dppe)](B(Ar(f))(4)(−))(2) (1), Sc(OTf)(3) + LiClO(4) and Cu(ClO(4))(2), can be cyclized with 2 + AgSbF(6) (1:1) under mild conditions with concurrent AgBr precipitation.