Reaction between rhodium(iii) bisboryls and diborane(4) compounds: evidence for a ς-bond metathesis process

Abstract

The rhodium bis(boryl) complex [RhCl(PPh 3 ) 2 {B(cat)} 2 ] (cat = 1,2-O 2 C 6 H 4 ) reacts with the diborane(4) compounds B 2 (O 2 R) 2 {O 2 R = 1,2-O 2 C 6 H 3 Me-4, 1,2-O 2 C 6 H 2 Bu t 2 -3,5 and dimethyl-L-tartrate [OCH(CO 2 Me)CH(CO 2 Me)O]} affording unsymmetrical metal bis(boryls) [RhCl(PPh 3 ) 2 {B(cat)}{B(O 2 R)}] and diborane(4) compounds (cat)B–B(O 2 R), one possible mechanism for which involves ς-bond metathesis.