Displacement of norbornadiene (nbd; bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene) from [Rh
(PPh3)(2)(nbd)]ClO4 by hydrogenation in the presence of PPh3 and formamide
or Me-substituted derivatives, results in the formation of O-bonded formami
de complexes [Rh(PPh3)(3)(OCHNHxMe2-x)]ClO4 (x=0, 1, 2) rather than N-bonde
d derivatives. These have been characterised by spectroscopic measurements
and, in the case of [Rh(PPh3)(3)(OCHNHMe)]ClO4, by X-ray crystallography. A
ll undergo oxidative addition with H-2, and the rates of ligand exchange in
the Rh-I and Rh-III complexes have been determined by magnetisation-transf
er measurements.