An alternative strategy to an electron rich phosphine based carbonylation catalyst†
Abstract
The complexes [Rh(CO)Cl(2-Ph2PC6H4COOMe)], 1, and trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(2-Ph2PC6H4COOMe)2], 2, have been synthesized by the reaction of the dimer [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 with 2 and 4 molar equivalents of 2-(diphenylphosphino)methyl benzoate. The complexes 1 and 2 show terminal ν(CO) bands at 1979 and 1949 cm−1 respectively indicating high electron density at the metal centre. The molecular structure of the complex 2 has been determined by