Rhodium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Carboxylato Complexes: Synthesis, Structure Determination, and Catalytic Activity in the Hydroformylation of Alkenes

Abstract

Rhodium carboxylato complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, [Rh(IPr)(CO)2(OAc)] (1) and [Rh(IPr)2(CO)(OAc)] (2), have been synthesized and characterized. The two complexes are catalytically active for the regioselective hydroformylation of both aryl and aliphatic alkenes with regioselectivities of up to 40:1, without concomitant isomerization or hydrogenation.