REACTIVITY OF THE BIS(CHELATE)RHODIUM COM PLEX [RH(PO)2][BPH4] WITH H2, O2 AND CH3I

In a reversible way the bis(chelate)rhodium complex [Rh(P O)2][BPh4] ( 1) [P O: eta2-O,P chelated (C6H11)2PCH2CH2OCH3 ligand) reacts with hyd rogen to form the unstable dihydridorhodium complex [RhH2(P O)2][BPh4] (2). The dioxygenrhodium complex [RhO2(P O)2][BPh4] (3) is obtained s traightforwardly by treating 1 with oxygen. Complex 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with Z = 4, as determined by an X-r ay diffraction study. Upon the oxidative addition of (CH3I(CH3I))-C-13 to 1 the methylrhodium complex [RhCH3I(P O)2][BPh4] (4, 4') is genera ted with cis-oriented phosphorus atoms.