Dimethyl maleate instead reacts via C–H activation to give the complex [TpIr(cis-C(R)═CEt(R))(cis-C(R)═CH(R))(H2O)], having two differently substituted alkenyl ligands. The disubstituted alkynes R′C≡CR′ (R′ = Me, Ph) react with 1, giving very stable iridacyclopentadienes ...