Photochemical intermediates of trans-Rh(CO)L2Cl where L=PMe3, PBu3, and i-Pr2HN and cis-Rh(CO)2(i-Pr2HN)Cl in frozen organic glasses

The Nujol glass matrix photolyses of Rh(CO)(PMe3)2Cl (1), Rh(CO)(PBu3)2Cl (2), Rh(CO)2(i-Pr2HN)Cl (3), and Rh(CO)(i-Pr2HN)2Cl (4), have been examined. Phototolysis of 1 (λirr>400 nm) and 2 (350<λirr<400 nm) give new species, A, with carbonyl stretching bands slightly below the parent bands. In the case of 1 this species appears to give rise to a second product, C, upon either extended photolysis or annealing. High-energy photolysis of 1, 2, and 4, result in loss of CO and formation of an IR silent species, RhL2Cl. In the case of 1 a new carbonyl species, B, is observed upon high-energy photolysis or annealing of a matrix containing CO and Rh(PMe3)2Cl. B may be converted to 1 by either back photolysis or annealing. Compound 3 undergoes photochemical CO-loss to form two isomeric photoproducts. Comparison of the carbonyl stretching frequencies of phosphine and ammine derivatives and photoproducts made it possible to eliminate PR3 loss as the source of A. DFT calculations suggest that A may be a non-planar, triplet excited state of 1 or 2. DFT calculations also support the assignment of B to cis-Rh(CO)(PMe3)2Cl.