THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF CP-STAR-RH COMPLEXES

The electrochemical reduction of [Cp*RhCl2]2 (1) or [(Cp*Rh)(μ-Cl)3]PF6 (2) in methylene chloride and acetone and of [(Cp*Rh)(μ-OH)3]PF6, (3) and Cp*Rh(acetone)2+n (5) in the latter solvent is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and coulometry. An involved stepwise reduction sequence featuring electron transfer, loss of Cl- and disproportionation from 1 or 2 generates the novel blue, air-sensitive, binuclear RhII species [Cp*RhCl]2 (7). © 1990.