Rhodium hydride formation in the presence of a bulky monophosphite ligand: a spectroscopic and solid-state investigation

A study has been carried out on rhodium catalyst preforming when modified with the bulky tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, P(Obtbp)3. X-Ray crystal structure determinations of a tropolone-type precursor complex [Rh(TropBr3)(CO){P(Obtbp)3}].P(Obtbp)3·CH3COCH3 (TropBr3 = 3,5,7-tribromotropolonate) and the free P(Obtbp)3 ligand are reported. Systematic in situ IR and NMR studies of the particular rhodium phosphite modified catalyst and its precursors have led to the identification of two distinct rhodium hydride species. A {1H,31P} HMBC NMR experiment afforded clarity on the 31P NMR spectra observed under hydroformylation conditions. The species were identified as [HRh(CO)3{P(Obtbp)3}] and [HRh(CO)2{P(Obtbp)3}2]. Attention was also given to the rate of catalyst formation when starting from different rhodium precursors.