Amine Products and Catalyst Poisoning in the Homogeneous H2 Hydrogenation of Imines Catalyzed by the [Rh(COD)(PPh3)2]PF6 Precursor

The H 2 hydrogenations of PhN CHPh and PhCH 2 N CHPh are catalyzed by the precursor [Rh(COD)(PPh 3 ) 2 ]PF 6 . However, the amine product PhNHCH 2 Ph poisons the catalyst by coordination to the Rh through an arene moiety, while the other amine product, (PhCH 2 ) 2 NH, forms a labile N-bonded species that does not poison the catalyst system.