Synthesis,characterization and catalytic applications of rhodium(I) organometallics with substituted tertiary phosphines

Organometallics of the type [Rh(COD)(L)Cl] (where, L = carboxyl/formyl/pyridyl tertiary phosphines) have been synthesized by treating the precursor [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ with substituted tertiary phosphines. [Rh(COD)(Ph₂P-2-C₆H₄COO)] and [Rh(COD)(Ph₂P-CH₂COO)] were synthesized by halide abstraction from the precursor [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in the presence of AgPF₆ in tetrahydrofuran by involving 2-carboxy phenyl/carboxy methyl group of tertiary phosphines in coordination as bidentate ligands. Similarly, the cationic compounds of the type [Rh(COD)L₂]PF₆ were also synthesized by treating [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in the presence of AgPF₆. All these compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, mass, and electronic spectral studies. [Rh(COD)(Ph₂-P-2-C₆H₄COOH)Cl] and [Rh(COD)(Ph₂-P-2-C₆H₄COO)] were studied on the catalytic reduction reactions of 2-nitroanisole, 3-nitro anisole, 4-nitroanisole, 2-nitrobenzoicacid, 3-nitrobenzoicacid, 4-nitrobenzoicacid under mild conditions and [Rh(COD)(Ph₂-P-2-C₆H₄COO)] was found to be more efficient than [Rh(COD)(Ph₂-P-2-C₆H₄COOH)Cl]. This article is dedicated to Dr. D. R. M Walton, who successfully completed his tenure as Editor-in-Chief, Transition Metal Chemistry.