A dinuclear phosphite rhodium(I) complex obtained by syngas treatment of a Rh/hydroxy phosphonite olefin hydroformylation precatalyst

Abstract

A hydroxy phosphonite was found to be unstable during the catalyst preformation routine applied towards a rhodium olefin hydroformylation catalyst. C—P bond cleavage occurred when the phosphonite was reacted with [(acac)Rh(1,5-COD)] (acac is acetyl acetate and 1,5-COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene) at 80 °C and 20 bar of CO/H2. As a result, a nearly planar six-membered ring structure consisting of two rhodium(I) cations and two bridging phosphorous acid diester anions was formed, namely bis[μ-(4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxydibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl)oxy]-1:2κ2 P:O;1:2κ2 O:P-bis{[6-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxydibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepine-κP]carbonylrhodium(I)} toluene tetrasolvate, [Rh2(C22H28O5P)2(C34H37O5P)2(CO)2]·4C7H8. Further coordination of phosphite and of carbonyl groups resulted in 16-electron rhodium centres.