Iridium-Catalyzed α-Methylation of α-Aryl Esters Using Methanol as the C1 Source.

See more Iridium products. Iridium (atomic symbol: Ir, atomic number: 77) is a Block D, Group 9, Period 6 element with an atomic weight of 192.217. The number of electrons in each of iridium's shells is [2, 8, 18, 32, 15, 2] and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁷ 6s². The iridium atom has a radius of 136 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 202 pm. Iridium was discovered and first isolated by Smithson Tennant in 1803. In its elemental form, Iridium has a silvery white appearance. Iridium is a member of the platinum group of metals. It is the most corrosion resistant metal known and is the second-densest element (after osmium). It will not react with any acid and can only be attacked by certain molten salts, such as molten sodium chloride. Iridium is found as an uncombined element and in iridium-osmium alloys. Iridium's name is derived from the Greek goddess Iris, personification of the rainbow, on account of the striking and diverse colors of its salts.