Pages 1494-1500

B-Chlorocatecholborane undergoes oxidative addition to M(PR3)3Cl (M = Rh, R = Me; M = Ir, R = Me, Et) yielding six-coordinate complexes of general formula mer,cis-(PR3)3Cl2M(BO2C6H4). The same M(PR3)3Cl complexes also react with B-bromocatecholborane to give a mixture of metal boryl homo- and heterodihalides (PR3)3X1X2M(BO2C6H4) (X1, X2 = Cl, Br), and the observed disproportionation is believed to involve the formation of a heteronuclear halide-bridged intermediate. The alkene 4-vinylanisole failed to react with the six-coordinate, 18-electron (PR3)3Cl2M(BO2C6H4) complexes at ambient temperatures.