Protonolysis of an α-Hydroxyl Ligand for the Generation of a PC_carbeneP Pincer Complex and Subsequent Reactivity Studies

Abstract

A rhodium α-hydroxylalkyl complex ( 1 ) reacts rapidly with Brookhart’s acid, [H(OEt 2 ) 2 ][B(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 -C 6 H 3 ) 4 ], to generate a cationic PC carbene P complex ( 2 ). Complex 2 can also be accessed from salt metathesis of an α-hydroxyalkyl hydrochlorido rhodium(III) complex ( 4 ) with Na[B(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 -C 6 H 3 ) 4 ]. The reactivity of compound 2 is explored through a series of reactions with various nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents.