Catalytic properties of water-soluble rhodium and iridium complexes: the influence of the ligand structure

Rhodium and iridium complexes of trisulfonated triarylphosphanes, TPPTS (tris(3-sulfonatophenyl)phosphane), T(p-A)PTS (tris(3-sulfonato-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphane), T(2,4-X)TS (tris(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)phosphane), have been tested in biphasic hydrogenation of aldehydes. T(2,4-X)TS could not stabilize the rhodium complex under the applied conditions. Guanidium salt of T(2,4-X)TS has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, and Tolman cone angle of the phosphane has been determined from crystallographic data. The large cone angle (196°, 210°) explains the instability of the rhodium complex. Contrary to the T(2,4-X)TS/rhodium system, the T(2,4-X)TS/iridium catalyst has been found to be stable and effective in hydrogenation of benzaldehyde and caproaldehyde.