Further studies on hydridocarbonyltris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I). Part I. Nature of inactivation of catalytic reactions

Abstract

The homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation and isomerisation reactions of alkenes with hydridocarbonyltris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I) catalyst are slowed down and eventually stopped, especially in dilute solutions, by a decay reaction of the catalyst which leads to an inactive species. The nature of this complex, which is shown to be dicarbonyltetrakis(triphenylphosphine)dirhodium, and of the relation to other species in the system has been studied.