RHODIUM(III) COMPLEXES OF (EEE)-1,5,9-CYCLODODECATRIENE - SYNTHESES, STRUCTURES AND ABSOLUTE-CONFIGURATIONS OF DERIVATIVES OF CATENA-POLY-[MU-DICHLORO-(1,2,12-ETA)-1,5,8 CYCLODODECATRIENYLRHODIUM]

The reaction of RhCl3.3H(2)O with (EEE)-1,5,9-cyclododecatriene in alc ohols gives a red polymeric solid compound with chlorine bridges, 1, i n which the hydrocarbon moiety has been reported to be bonded to the m etal via an eta(3)-allylic bond. Re-examination of this reaction has l ed to the isolation of soluble derivatives obtained by breaking the ch lorine bridges with chelating diphosphines and diamines. An X-ray anal ysis on single crystals of a diphosphino and a diamino derivative, ind icates that the cyclo-olefin residue with composition C12H17 has under gone isomerization. The two double bonds not involved in the bonding t o the metal are 5,8 rather than 5,9.