Serendipitous syntheses of Rh(H)2Cl(PRPh2)3 complexes, and their crystal structures, where R = Me, Cy (cyclohexyl)

Reactions of RhCl(cod)(THP) (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; THP = P(CH2OH)3) with PMePh2 or PCyPh2 (Cy = cyclohexyl) in acetone/MeOH solution under H2 surprisingly form the complexes cis, mer-Rh(H)2Cl(PRPh2)3 (R = Me or Cy); both complexes are characterized by crystallography (the first structures in which the hydride ligands of such dihydrido-chloro-trisphosphine complexes have been located), and by detailed 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The key role of the THP in the observed chemistry is discussed.