Cationic carbonyl complexes of rhodium(I) and rhodium(III): syntheses, vibrational spectra, NMR studies, and molecular structures of tetrakis(carbonyl)rhodium(I) heptachlorodialuminate and -gallate, [Rh(CO)4][Al2Cl7] and [Rh(CO)4][Ga2Cl7

Abstract

Dimeric rhodium(I) bis(carbonyl) chloride, [Rh(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)](2), is found to be a useful and convenient starting material for the syntheses of new cationic carbonyl complexes of both rhodium(I) and rhodium(III). Its reaction with the Lewis acids AlCl(3) or GaCl(3) produces in a CO atmosphere at room temperature the salts [Rh(CO)(4)][M(2)Cl(7)] (M = Al, Ga), which are characterized by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data for [Rh(CO)(4)][Al(2)Cl(7)]: triclinic, space group Ponemacr; (No. 2); a = 9.705(3), b = 9.800(2), c = 10.268(2) A; alpha = 76.52(2), beta = 76.05(2), gamma = 66.15(2) degrees; V = 856.7(5) A(3); Z = 2; T = 293 K; R(1) [I > 2sigma(I)] = 0.0524, wR(2) = 0.1586. Crystal data for [Rh(CO)(4)][Ga(2)Cl(7)]: triclinic, space group Ponemacr; (No. 2); a = 9.649(1), b = 9.624(1), c = 10.133(1) A; alpha = 77.38(1), beta = 76.13(1), gamma = 65.61(1) degrees; V = 824.4(2) A(3); Z = 2; T = 143 K; R(1) [I > 2sigma(I)] = 0.0358, wR(2) = 0.0792. Structural parameters for the square planar cation [Rh(CO)(4)](+) are compared to those of isoelectronic [Pd(CO)(4)](2+) and of [Pt(CO)(4)](2+). Dissolution of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) in HSO(3)F in a CO atmosphere allows formation of [Rh(CO)(4)](+)((solv)). Oxidation of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) by S(2)O(6)F(2) in HSO(3)F results in the formation of ClOSO(2)F and two seemingly oligomeric Rh(III) carbonyl fluorosulfato intermediates, which are easily reduced by CO addition to [Rh(CO)(4)](+)((solv)). Controlled oxidation of this solution with S(2)O(6)F(2) produces fac-Rh(CO)(3)(SO(3)F)(3) in about 95% yield. This Rh(III) complex can be reduced by CO at 25 degrees C in anhydrous HF to give [Rh(CO)(4)](+)((solv)); addition of SbF(5) at -40 degrees C to the resulting solution allows isolation of [Rh(CO)(4)][Sb(2)F(11)], which is found to have a highly symmetrical (D(4)(h)()) [Sb(2)F(11)](-) anion. Oxidation of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) in anhydrous HF by F(2), followed in a second step by carbonylation in the presence of SbF(5), is found to be a simple, straightforward route to pure [Rh(CO)(5)Cl][Sb(2)F(11)](2), which has previously been structurally characterized by us. All new complexes are characterized by vibrational and NMR spectroscopy. Assignment of the vibrational spectra and interpretation of the structural data are supported by DFT calculations.