Inorganics (Feb 2022)

Trigonal Bipyramidal Rhodium(I) Methyl and Phenyl Complexes: Precursors of Oxidative Methyl and Phenyl Radical Generation

  • Urs Fischbach,
  • Matthias Vogt,
  • Peter Coburger,
  • Monica Trincado,
  • Hansjörg Grützmacher

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10030028
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3
p. 28

Abstract

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The new complexes [Rh(Me)(trop3P)] (2) and [Rh(Ph)(trop3P)] (3) (trop = 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-yl) were synthesised by addition of organolithium reagents (MeLi and PhLi) to the parent pentacoordinated chloride complex [RhCl(trop3P)]. The compounds have a trigonal bipyramidal structure with olefin-only ligands in the equatorial position and the methyl or phenyl substituent in the axial position. Oxidation of complexes 2 and 3 leads to the liberation of methyl and phenyl radicals, which were indirectly detected by reaction with common spin trapping reagents.

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