Bridge functionalized bis-N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium(I) complexes and their application in catalytic hydrosilylation

A series of chelating bridge functionalized bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) complexes of rhodium (I) were prepared by reacting the corresponding imidazolium salts with [Rh(COD)Cl]2 in an in-situ reaction. For the N-methyl substituted complex with a PF6-anion an X-ray crystal structure was exemplary obtained. All complexes were spectroscopically characterized and tested for the hydrosilylation of acetophenone.