SOL-GEL ENTRAPPED LIPOPHILIC AND HYDROPHILIC RUTHENIUM-PHOSPHINE, RHODIUM-PHOSPHINE, AND IRIDIUM-PHOSPHINE COMPLEXES AS RECYCLABLE ISOMERIZATION CATALYSTS

The phosphinated complexes RuCl2(PPh(3))(2), 1, RhCl(PPh(3))(3), 2, Ir Cl(CO)(PPh(3))(2), 3, their water soluble sulfonated analogs RuCl2[Ph( 2)P(3-C6H4SO3Na)](2) . 4H(2)O, 4, RhCl[Ph(2)P(3-C6H4SO3Na)](3) . 4H(2) O, 5, IrCl(CO)[Ph(2)P(3-C6H4SO3Na)](2), 6, as well as the dirhodium co mpounds trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh(3))(mu-pz)](2), 7, and trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh(3)) (mu-Cl)](2), 9 were entrapped physically in SiO2 sol-gel matrices. Rep lacement of the PPh(3) ligands in the two latter complexes by Ph(2)P(C H2)(2)Si(OEt)(3) groups enabled to bind of the dirhodium complexes che mically to the matrix backbone via the silyloxy functions. The activit y of the immobilized complexes as allylbenzene isomerization catalysts was studied and compared. Entrapped complex 4 was found to be the mos t efficient catalyst.