Preparation and reactions of rhodium complexes of some alkynylamines

Reactions of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) with the alkynylamines Ph(sic)(CH2)(2)NH2 1 and p-MeC(6)H(4)(sic)(CH2)(3)NH2 2 give the corresponding alkynylamine dicarbonyl rhodium(1) chloride complexes 3 and 4 in which ligand bonding is monodentate through nitrogen. Solutions of these complexes in benzene or chloroform isomerise on standing to give complexes involving 2-substituted-pyrroline derivatives as ligands. Attempts to convert this reaction into a catalytic process were unsuccessful using rhodium catalysts at 80 degrees C but catalysis was achieved using Ni(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2) at 125 degrees C.