skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Matrix photochemistry of (eta/sup 5/-cyclopentadienyl)bis)ethene)rhodium and (eta/sup 5/-cyclopentadienyl)(ethene)carbonylrhodium: a test-bed for intermediates in C-H activation

Journal Article · · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00214a025· OSTI ID:7004401

The photochemical reactivities of CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/)/sub 2/ (1) and CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/)CO (Cp = eta/sup 5/=C/sub 5/H/sub 5/) have been examined in low-temperature matrices with IR and UV/vis detection. Photodissociation of ethene from 1 in inert matrices (Ar or CH/sub 4/) yields the coordinatively unsaturated (CpRhb(C/sub 24/; the reaction is reversed by long-wavelength irradiation. The identity of CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/) is demonstrated with /sup 2/H labeling of ethene and cyclopentadienyl groups. The IR results support a bent, ground-state geometry for CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/). UV photolysis of 1 in CO matrices releases ethene and generates 2 and CPRh(CO)/sub 2/ sequentially. The corresponding reaction in nitrogen matrices leads to CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/)(N/sub 2/). On photolysis of 1 in CO-doped methane matrices, CpRh(CO)(CH/sub 3/)H is formed in addition to substitution products. Complex 2 undergoes loss of either CO, yielding CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/), or of C/sub 2/H/sub 4/, yielding CPRHCO, on UV photolysis in argon matrices. These reactions are reversed by long-wavelength photolysis, but in more concentrated matrices Cp/sub 2/Rh/sub 2/(CO)/sub 2/ is formed as an additional product. In nitrogen matrices both CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/)(N/sub 2/) and CpRh(CO)(N/sub 2/) are generated. In methane matrices CpRH(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/) is still detected on UV photolysis, but CpRhCO is replaced by the product of oxidative addition of methane, CpRh(CO)(CH/sub 3/)H. Long-wavelength photolysis removes CpRh(C/sub 2/H/sub 4/) but increases conversion to the (methyl)hydride complex. These experiments demonstrate that oxidative addition of methane must proceed via CpRhCO. The role of CpRhL (L = C/sub 2/H/sub 4/, CO) intermediates in solution reactions is discussed.

Research Organization:
Univ. of York (England)
OSTI ID:
7004401
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 110:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English