Synthesis and characterization of {[(COD)Rh(bis-(2R,3R)-2,5-diethylphospholanobenzene)]+BARF−} for use in homogeneous catalysis in supercritical carbon dioxide

Reaction of [(COD)2Cl2Rh] (COD: cyclo-octadiene) with sodium tetrakis((3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate (NaBARF) in the presence of an excess of COD yields [(COD)2Rh]+BARF−. The COD ligands are readily displaced by the bidentate ligand 1,2-bis((2R,5R)-2,5-diethylphosphalono)benzene (Et-DuPHOS) to form [(COD)Rh(Et-DuPHOS)]BARF, the structure of which has been determined by X-ray crystallography. BARF was selected as the counterion in order to achieve solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide for use in asymmetric hydrogenation and hydroformylation reactions. Density-functional theory calculations were used to study the intermediates in asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene. The energies of the two-enantiomer models differ by 11.3 kcal mol−1.