[(Lithiumbenzazaphospholine-2-carboxylate-κP)Rh(COD)Cl] — The first structurally characterized phosphinoalkanoate RhCl complex with Rh–Cl…alkali metal interactions

Abstract Addition of t BuLi at the P C bond of 1-neopentyl- 1H -1,3-benzazaphosphole in toluene, followed by reaction with carbon dioxide, separation of the lithium benzazaphospholine-2-carboxylate 1 Li and reaction with a semi-equivalent of [Rh(1,5-COD)Cl] 2 in THF provided the tetrameric title complex 2 Li , characterized by crystal structure analysis, rather than the expected Rh(1,5-COD) phosphinocarboxylate κ 2 P , O -chelate. 2 Li is the first example of a κ P -coordinated RhCl complex of an alkali metal phosphinoalkanoate; in the solid state, it forms crystal tetrameric aggregates involving Li…O and Li…Cl–Rh–P bridging interactions.