Direct observation of unusual CO insertion on a new SiO2-attached Rh dimer catalyst by FTIR
Abstract
The behaviour of a new surface Rh dimer, prepared by attachment of trans-[{Rh(C5Me5)Me}2(µ-CH2)2] on SiO2 in three elementary reaction steps related to ethene hydroformylation, was observed by FTIR which revealed metal-assisted reversible insertion of adsorbed CO into an alkyl group, unlike Rh monomers.