Reversible Activation of Water by an Air- and Moisture-Stable Frustrated Rhodium Nitrogen Lewis Pair

Chemistry. 2019 Oct 28;25(60):13665-13670. doi: 10.1002/chem.201902452. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

[Cp*Rh(κ3 N,N',P-L)][SbF6 ] (Cp*=C5 Me5 ), bearing a guanidine-derived phosphano ligand L, behaves as a "dormant" frustrated Lewis pair and activates H2 and H2 O in a reversible manner. When D2 O is employed, a facile H/D exchange at the Cp* ring takes place through sequential C(sp3 )-H bond activation.

Keywords: H/D exchange; HO−H bond activation; coordination modes; frustrated Lewis pairs; reaction mechanisms.