SYNTHESIS OF RHODIUM(III)-PYRIDINE COMPLEXES - AN ELECTROPHORETIC ANDCHROMATOGRAPHIC STUDY

The synthetic methods for the preparation of rhodium(III)-pyridine com plexes were examined using zone electrophoresis and thin-layer chromat ography. Most syntheses produce a mixture of three to four complexes. Fresh solutions of commercial RhCl3 . nH(2)O contain as many as ten el ectrophoretically different species. A yellow electrophoretically pure Rh(py)(3)Cl-3 (presumably the fac form) could be prepared, which in d ilute acid converts into another neutral species, presumably the mer f orm. These could be separated by thin-layer chromatography on cellulos e. The importance of examining the purity of monodentate complexes pre pared by the usual synthetic methods is stressed.