HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC-HYDROGENATION OF OLEFINS BY USE OF RHH2(PH(2)N(3)) (PPH(3))(2) IN DIMETHYL-SULFOXIDE

A complex RhH2(Ph(2)N(3)) (PPh(3))(2) 1 has been shown to be an effici ent catalyst for the homogeneous hydrogenation of unsaturated compound s (styrene, acrylonitrile, cinnamic acid, cinnamic alcohol and cinnamo nitrile) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) under mild conditions. DMSO appe ars to play an important role in generating the active catalytic speci es for hydrogenation of styrene. No catalytic activity for styrene hyd rogenation was observed for 1 in solvents such as benzene, toluene, ac etone, tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethylformamide. The results are disc ussed in relation to the mechanism of styrene hydrogenation.