The Unexpected Role of CO in CH Oxidative Addition by a Cationic Rhodium(I) Complex

Abstract

CO(mpletely) unexpected: The oxidative addition of CH bonds to transition-metal ions usually requires high electron density at the metal center, and therefore strong π-acceptor ligands, such as carbon monoxide, are normally expected to inhibit such reactions. Hence surprisingly, an electron-poor cationic RhI system is observed in which addition of a CO ligand can actually promote oxidative addition of a strong CH bond (see scheme).