Rhodium(I), Palladium(II), and Platinum(II) Complexes Containing New Mixed Phosphane−Phosphite Ligands − Effect of the Catalytic System Stability on the Enantioselective Hydroformylation of Styrene

The new mixed phosphane−phosphite ligands 1 and 2, derived from 3,3′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethoxybiphenyl and (S)-binaphthol, respectively, reacted with [Rh(COD)(THF)2]CF3SO3 to give the compounds [Rh(COD)(1)]CF3SO3 and [Rh(COD)(2)]CF3SO3 in which the ligands 1 and (S)-2 are chelated to the rhodium centre. The reaction with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 gave two different products, [Rh(CO)2(L)Cl] and [Rh(CO)(L)Cl] [L = 1 and (S)-2], containing L as a chelate. On the basis of the IR and NMR spectroscopic data, the proposed structure of the pentacoordinate species is a trigonal bipyramide in which the phosphane−phosphite ligand assumes an equatorial-axial coordination. The reactions of 1 and 2 with [Pd(C6H5CN)2Cl2] and [Pt(COD)I2] gave the corresponding compounds [Pd(L)Cl2] and [Pt(L)I2] in which the ligands are chelated to the metal centre. The crystal structure of the chloroform solvate of [Pd(L)Cl2] was fully characterised by an X-ray study. The chiral ligands (S)-2 and (S)-3 [derived from the ortho-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted (S)-binaphthol] were tested in the hydroformylation of styrene. The results obtained were discussed in light of the catalytic system stability.