New rhodium(I) water‐soluble complexes with 1‐alkyl‐1‐azonia‐3,5‐diaza‐7‐phospha‐adamantane iodides and their catalytic activity

The water‐soluble phosphine ligands, 1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane (tpa) and 1‐alkyl‐1‐azonia‐3,5‐diaza‐7‐phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane iodides (Rtpa⁺I⁻), with alkyl=methyl(mtpa⁺I⁻), ethyl (etpa⁺I⁻) and n‐propyl, (ptpa⁺I⁻), and mtpa⁺Cl⁻ react with [Rh₂Cl₂(CO)₄] giving the rhodium(I) complexes [RhCl(CO)(tpa)₂], [RhI(CO)(Rtpa⁺I⁻)₂], [RhCl‐­(CO)(mtpa⁺Cl⁻)₃] and [RhI(CO)(Rtpa⁺I⁻)₃]. The properties and reactivities of the complexes have been investigated using ¹H and ³¹PNMR and IR spectroscopies. The five‐coordinate complexes in solutions show dynamic properties. The complexes are catalysts of the water‐gas shift reaction, the hydrogenation of CC and CO bonds, the hydroformylation of alkenes and the isomerization of unsaturated compounds. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.