NEW RHODIUM(II) COMPLEXES WITH 2,2' 6',2''-TERPYRIDINE/

The compounds [Rh-2(mu-OAc)(4)(terpy)(2)] (1) and [Rh2Cl2(mu-OAc)(terp y)(2)](H3O)Cl-2 .-9H(2)O (2) have been synthesized in reactions of [Rh -2(mu-OAc)(4)(H2O)(2)] with 2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine (terpy) (compound 1) and with terpy and NaCl (compound 2) in ethanol using stoichiometr ic quantities of reactants. Both compounds were structurally and spect roscopically characterized. In 1 terpyridine acts as a monodentate lig and. The compound 2 is the first Rh(II) complex containing only one ca rboxylato bridging ligand to be analyzed crystallographically. The Rh- Rh distance in 1 is considerably shorter than in 2, The complex 2 in b asic solutions in alcohols is an efficient catalyst for reduction of k etones.