Activation of CH and CCl bonds in the reactions of 2-substituted benzothiazolines with [RhCl(PPh3)3]

The reactions of 2-phenylbenzothiazoline or 2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)benzothiazoline with [RhCl(PPh3)3] afforded the neutral rhodium(III) complexes [RhCl(SNC)(PPh3)2] (1) (SNC=C6H4SNCHC6H4 2−) and [RhCl(SNC(Cl))(PPh3)2] (2) (SNC(Cl)=C6H4SNCHC6H3Cl2−) through the activation of CH and CCl bonds, respectively. The crystal structure of complex 1 has been determined and the rhodium atom is in a distorted-octahedral environment. To evaluate whether CCl activation is more favourable than CH activation, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)benzothiazoline was reacted with [RhCl(PPh3)3]. The reaction shows that CCl bond activation is preferred in this system.