Rh-complexes of ditopic bis(pyrazol-1-yl)borate ligands: Assessment of their catalytic activity towards phenylacetylene polymerization

Two dinuclear Rh^I-cyclooctadiene complexes [1,4-(cod)Rh(B(R’)pz₂)-C₆H₄-(B(R’)pz₂)Rh(cod)], linked by a ditopic scorpionate ligand, have been prepared and fully characterized (R′ = Ph (2), C₆F₅ (2^F); pz = pyrazolide). Both compounds were tested as catalysts for phenylacetylene polymerization but showed no catalytic activity. Attempts at the synthesis of corresponding complexes of the sterically more demanding ligands (R′ = Ph (4), C₆F₅ (4^F); pz^Ph = 3-phenylpyrazolide) resulted in B-N bond cleavage and formation of the dinuclear complex [(cod)Rh(μ-pz^Ph)₂Rh(cod)] (5). Complex 5 proved to be an efficient catalyst for the preparation of highly stereoregular head-to-tail cis-transoidal poly(phenylacetylene).