Diminished electron density in the Vaska‐type rhodium(I) complex trans‐[Rh(NCBH3)(CO)(PPh3)2]

Vaska‐type complexes, i.e. trans‐RhX(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (X is a halogen or pseudohalogen), undergo a range of reactions and exhibit considerable catalytic activity. The electron density on the Rh^I atom in these complexes plays an important role in their reactivity. Many cyanotrihydridoborate (BH₃CN^?) complexes of Group 6–8 transition metals have been synthesized and structurally characterized, an exception being the rhodium(I) complex. Carbonyl(cyanotrihydridoborato‐κN)bis(triphenylphosphine‐κP)rhodium(I), Rh(NCBH₃)(CO)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], was prepared by the metathesis reaction of sodium cyanotrihydridoborate with trans‐RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂], and was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy. The X‐ray diffraction data indicate that the cyanotrihydridoborate ligand coordinates to the Rh^I atom through the N atom in a trans position with respect to the carbonyl ligand; this was also confirmed by the IR and NMR data. The carbonyl stretching frequency ν(CO) and the carbonyl carbon ¹J_C–Rh and ¹J_C–P coupling constants of the C_ipso atoms of the triphenylphosphine groups reflect the diminished electron density on the central Rh^I atom compared to the parent trans‐RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] complex.