The reaction between orthodiphenylphosphinobenzaldehyde and [(η5-C5Me5)MCl(μ-Cl)]2 (M=Rh and Ir)

The benzaldehyde functionalized phosphine Ph2PC6H4CHO-2 underwent reaction with [(η5-C5Me5)MCl(μ-Cl)]2 (M=Rh, Ir) to form (η5-C5Me5)MCl2(κP-Ph2PC6H4CHO-2), which underwent activation of the aldehyde C–H bond to form (η5-C5Me5)MCl(κP,κC-Ph2PC6H4CO-2). Formally the reaction involves oxidative addition of C–H across the metal and reductive elimination of HCl. The structure of (η5-C5Me5)RhCl(κP,κC-Ph2PC6H4CO-2) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.