MILD DECARBONYLATION OF TRANSITION-METAL CARBONYLS BY RHODIUM(I) COMPLEXES

Transition metal carbonyls have been found to react with rhodium(I) complexes under mild conditions with resultant transfer of carbonyl to rhodium. Partial decarbonylation of Mo(CO)6 and Fe(CO)5 gives Mo(PPh3)2(CO)4, Mo(Arene)(CO)3 (Arene = benzene, toluene or mesitylene, Fe(PPh3)(CO)4, Fe(PPh3)2(CO)3, Fe(Diene)(CO)3 (Diene = butadiene or isoprene). In the absence of ligands capable of stabilizing partially decarbonylated moieties the decarbonylation goes to completion. In hexamethylphosphoramide the exhaustive decarbonylation of Cr(CO)6, Mo(CO)6, W(CO)6, Fe(CO)5 and Ni(CO)4 induced by [Rh(C8H14)2Cl]2 (C8H14 = cyclooctene) proceeds homogeneously and with retention of the oxidation state of rhodium (+1). © 1979.