Oxidation of Rh^<scp>I</scp>(olefin) Fragments to 2‐Rhoda(<scp>III</scp>)oxetanes

Abstract

Stable unsubstituted 1,2-oxarhodacyclobutanes (2-rhodaoxetanes) are obtained upon oxidation of [RhI(ethene)‘N4’]+ complexes [Eq. (a)]. Similar oxidation of [Rh1(cod)‘N3’]+ oxarhodacyclobutane intermediate (cod = (Z,Z))-1,5-cyclooctadiene; ‘N4’ and ‘N3’ = tetra- and tridentate ligands. The mechanistically interesting formation of these oxarhodacyclobutanes gives insight into the catalytic oxidation of olefins with late transition metal complexes.