Rhodafuran from a methoxy(alkenyl)carbene by the rhoda-1,3,5-hexatriene route

Abstract

A methoxy(alkenyl)carbenerhodium complex [RhCp*Cl{C(OMe)CHCPh₂}(PMe₃)]PF₆ (2) has been synthesized and used as the starting material for the study of the effect of the metal center (Rh vs. Ir) in the formation of new rhodacycle complexes. While η³ and η⁵ indenylrhodium complexes have been achieved by the C–H bond activation of a phenyl ring, insertion of terminal alkynes into the rhodium–carbene bond led to the first example of the synthesis of rhodafuran complexes through rhoda-1,3,5-hexatriene intermediates. This new method represents an efficient process to obtain metallafuran complexes.