Two precatalysts for application in propargylic CH activation.

The complexes {bis[(2-diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl] ether-κ2P,P'}(η4-norbornadiene)rhodium(I) tetrafluoridoborate, [Rh(C7H8)(C36H28OP2)]BF4, and {bis[(2-diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl] ether-κ2P,P'}[η4-(Z,Z)-cycloocta-1,5-diene]rhodium(I) tetrafluoridoborate dichloromethane monosolvate, [Rh(C8H12)(C36H28OP2)]BF4·CH2Cl2, are applied as precatalysts in redox-neutral atomic-economic propargylic CH activation [Lumbroso et al. (2013). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 52, 1890-1932]. In addition, the catalytically inactive pentacoordinated 18-electron complex {bis[(2-diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl] ether-κ2P,P'}chlorido(η4-norbornadiene)rhodium(I), [RhCl(C7H8)(C36H28OP2)], was synthesized, which can form in the presence of chloride in the reaction system.