Sequential arene coordination and C–F insertion in the reactions of (η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium complexes with hexafluorobenzene

Abstract

Hexafluorobenzene reacts with [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)(C2H4)] in two sequential photochemical reactions to yield first the arene coordination product, [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)(η2-C6F6)], and then the C–F insertion product, [(η-5-C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)(C6F5)F]; chlorination of the latter generates [(η5-C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)(C6F5)Cl], the structure of which has been determined crystallographically.