Supercritical fluids in organometallic chemistry: IR evidence for the photochemical C–H activation of high density polyethylene by [(η5-C5Me5)Ir(CO)2]

Abstract
Supercritical CO2(scCO2) is used to impregnate high density polyethylene film with [(C5Me5)Ir(CO)2]; UV irradiation causes changes in the IR spectrum consistent with C–H activation and formation of [(C5Me5)Ir(CO)(H)(polymer)], and subsequent extraction of the polyethylene with scCO2 removes unreacted [(C5Me5)Ir(CO)2] leaving the photoproduct in the film.