Highly Reactive Rh (I) hydrido Compounds

Three types of Rh (I) hydridotrialkylphosphine compounds, trans-RhH(N2) L2(L=P(t-Bu)3, PPh(t-Bu)2, PCy3, P(i-Pr)3), Rh2H2(μ-N2)L4(L=PCy3, P(i-Pr)3), and RhHLn(n=3, L=P (i-Pr)3, PEt3 ; n=4, L=PEt3), were prepared by reducing RhCl3·3 H2O with Na/Hg in THF. They were proved to be extremely strong nucleophiles and serve as efficient catalysts for hydrogenation of nitriles, ketones, and alkynes, and H-D exchange reaction of H2 and H-C(sp2, sp3)bond with D20 through activation of H2 and water, respectively. They also catalyze the hydrogenation of carbonyl and nitro compounds with H2O-CO and the hydroformylation of olefins with formaldehyde.