A highly efficient catalyst precursor for ethanoic acid production: [RhCl(CO)(PEt3)2]; X-ray crystal and molecular structure of carbonyldiiodo(methyl)bis(triethylphosphine)rhodium(III)

Abstract

Under mild conditions, [RhI(CO)(PEt₃)₂], is more active for the carbonylation of methanol to ethanoic acid than [Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–, which is widely used industrially; intermediates in the catalytic cycle have been identified and characterised.