31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of some complexes of the type mer-[MX3L3](M = Rh or Ir; X = halogen; L = tertiary phosphine)

Abstract

³¹ P N.m.r. data for complexes of the types mer-[RhCl₃L₃], mer-[IrX₃L₃], and [IrCl₂XL₃](L = tertiary phosphine; X = Cl, Br, or I), are reported. For the complexes mer-[MCl₃L₃](M = Rh or Ir), there is a linear correlation between the ³¹P chemical shifts of the free tertiary phosphine and the change in chemical shift on co-ordination. The effects of changing the halogen, X, on the ³¹P chemical shifts are discussed. ²J(P–P)(cis) Values are all small (ca. 20 Hz) but for the complex [IrCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₂(PEt₃)]²J(P–P)(trans) is 427 Hz. Some ³¹P n.m.r. spectral interpretations in the literature are corrected.