Hydrogen transfer reactions catalyzed by neutral rhodium(I) Schiff base complexes

Abstract

Hydrogen transfer reactions from 2-propanol to acetophenone or cyclohexene are catalyzed by neutral rhodium(I) complexes of the type [Rh(COD)L] and [Rh2(COD)2L'] (where L and L' are Schiff base ligands and COD=cycloocta-1,5-diene). Some dependency of the catalytic activity on the electronic and steric properties of the ligands are discussed.