The weak metal-water bond in diphenylborylated organoaquacobaloximes and rhodoximes leads to the formation of an unusual dinuclear Rh(III) complex

The synthesis and characterization of a series of RM(DBPh2)(2)(H2O) complex es (M = Co and Rh) and the X-ray structure of the dinuclear [n-PrRh(DH)(DBP h2)](2) (1) obtained by recrystallization of n-PrRh(DBPh2)(2)(H2O) in non c oordinating solvent are reported. The crystals of (1) are built up by neutral centrosymmetric dinuclear [n-Pr Rh(DH)(DBPh2)](2) units and CH2Cl2 crystallization molecules in the ratio 1 :1. The Rh ion of one n-PrRh(DH)(DBPh2) unit achieves hexacoordination by c oordination of one of the oxime O atoms of the other unit. The formation of the dimer by recrystallization of n-PrRh(DBPh2)(2)(H2O) in non coordinatin g solvent may be ascribed to the concomitant effect of the weak metal-water bond in the monomeric aqua complex, the strong tendency of Rh to achieving hexacoordination in such organo derivatives, and the ease of losing a BPh2 bridge of the diphenylborylated organorhodoximes.