Substitution of phosphine in the complex [RhCl(cyclooctadiene)(phosphine)] by 1-hexene

Summary The substitution of phosphine in the [RhCl(COD)(phosphine)] complex (1), where phosphine is PPh₃ or 1/2 BPS-2 [bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane] and COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene, by 1-hexene is a two-step reversible reaction. All individual rate constants and equilibrium constants were determined spectrophotometrically and associative mechanism occurring via the formation of five-coordinated [RhCl(COD)(phosphine)(1-hexene)] (2) was inferred. The rate-determining step changes from the first- to the second-one as the concentration of 1-hexene increases. An excess of phosphine shifts the equilibrium towards complex (2).