The synthesis of rhodium,
iridium, and iron pi-complexes
bearing 4,5-benzotropone ligands are reported. X-ray crystallographic analyses
revealed that a tropone core coordinates to a metal center
in a <i>eta</i><sup>4</sup> manner with a tub-form geometry. Some of the
benzotropone p-complexes
exhibited catalytic activity for the <i>N</i>-alkylation
of aniline via borrowing hydrogen.