Poly(azolyl)chelate Chemistry .5. Synthesis of Bis(benzotriazolyl)borato Complexes of Rhodium(i)

The reaction of K[H2B(bta)(2)] (bta = benzotriazol-1-yl) with [RhCl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)] provides [Rh(kappa(2)-H2B(bta)(2))(CO)(PPh(3))(2)], the carbonyl ligand of which is labile and readily replaced by CNC(6)H(3)Me(2)-2,6 to provide [Rh{kappa(2)-H2B(bta)(2)}(CNC(6)H(3)Me(2)-2,6)(PPh(3))(2)]. The formation of the isonitrile derivative appears to proceed via an associative mechanism involving a blue intermediate complex formulated as [Rh{kappa(1)-H2B(bta>(2)}(CNR)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)]. [Rh{kappa(2)-H2B(bta)(2)}(CS)(PPh(3))(2)] may be prepared by the corresponding reaction of K[H2B(bta)(2)] with [RhCl(CS)(PPh(3))(2)]. All the complexes show dynamic behaviour (H-1, C-13 NMR) at room temperature.