The catalytic oligomerization of butadiene on complexes of Rh(I)

Abstract

1. Complexes of the general formula LRh(CO)2Cl, where L is benzotriazole, acridine, imidazole, or benzimidazole, have been synthesized. 2. In the presence of catalytic amounts of the complexes LRh(CO)2Cl in ethanol, methanol, and acetone, butadiene is converted into a mixture of 4-vinylcyclohexene, cycloocta-1,5-diene, and 1,4-transpolybutadiene. In DMF solutions, the sole reaction product is 4-vinylcyclohexene. 3. In solutions of binuclear complexes of Rh(I) in DMF, in addition to 4-vinylcyclohexene, on the complex with p-phenylenediamine cycloocta-1,5-diene is formed and in the presence of the benzidine complex octa-1,3,7-triene is formed. Their formation may be connected with a doublet mechanism of the action of the two catalytically active centers of the binuclear complex catalyst.