Bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium carbonyl chloride is the organorhodium complex with the formula hCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ This complex of rhodium(I) is a bright yellow, air-stable solid. It is the Rh analogue of Vaska's complex, the corresponding iridium complex. With regards to its structure, the complex is square planar with mutually ''trans'' triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) ligands. The complex is a versatile

homogeneous catalyst In chemistry, homogeneous catalysis is catalysis by a soluble catalyst in a solution. Homogeneous catalysis refers to reactions where the catalyst is in the same phase as the reactants, principally in solution. In contrast, heterogeneous catalysis ...

Synthesis and reactions

Bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium carbonyl chloride was originally prepared by treating Rh₂Cl₂(CO)₄ with triphenylphosphine. However, it is typically produced by the carbonylation of Wilkinson's catalyst:{{cite book , author=D. Evans , author2=J. A. Osborn , author3=G. Wilkinson, doi=10.1002/9780470132593.ch18, title=''trans''‐Carbonylchlorobis(Triphenylphosphine)Rhodium and Related Complexes, chapter=Trans -Carbonylchlorobis(Triphenyl-Phosphine)Rhodium and Related Complexes, volume=28, series=Inorganic Syntheses, year=2007, pages=79–80, isbn=978-0-470-13259-3 :RhCl (C₆H₅)₃sub>3 + CO → RhCl(CO) (C₆H₅)₃sub>2 + P(C₆H₅)₃ In homogeneous catalysis, this conversion is typically an undesirable side-reaction since hCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂is a poor hydrogenation catalyst. Bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium carbonyl chloride is the precursor to tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium carbonyl hydride, an important catalyst for hydroformylation. :RhCl(CO) (C₆H₅)₃sub>2 + NaBH₄ + P(C₆H₅)₃ → RhH(CO) (C₆H₅)₃sub>3 + NaCl + BH₃

References

Organorhodium compounds Carbonyl complexes Triphenylphosphine complexes Chloro complexes Rhodium(I) compounds