CONTROL OF ETA-2-ARENE COORDINATION AND C-H BOND ACTIVATION BY CYCLOPENTADIENYL COMPLEXES OF RHODIUM

The selectivity for C-H bond activation vs. eta-2-coordination of arenes with [(eta-5-C5R5)Rh(PMe3)] fragments (R = Me, H) is subject to control by the thermodynamic stability of the resulting eta-2-arene complex; the preference for eta-2-coordination increases in order of arene: benzene < 1,4-C6H4(CF3)2 < naphthalene, and in order of ancillary ligand: C5Me5 < C5H5.