MULTIPLE ETA-2-ARENE COORDINATION - STRUCTURE AND ISOMERISM OF NAPHTHALENE COMPLEXES OF [(C5ME5)RH(PME3)]

The fragment [(C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)] reacts with naphthalene to give both C-H bond activation and eta(2)-naphthalene complexes. Continued thermal reaction eventually leads to the production of the unusual binuclear species [(C5Me5)Rh(PMe3)]2(1,2-eta(2)-3,4-eta(2)-C10H8), which can be isolated in pure form. The complex crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/a with a = 16.717 (8) angstrom, b = 16.153 (4) angstrom, c = 27.721 (8) angstrom, beta = 106.75 (3)-degrees, V = 7167.6 (6.8) angstrom 3, and Z = 8. The isomerization of the labeled molecule (C5Me5)Rh-(PMe3)(2-naphthyl)D has been examined and found to proceed intramolecularly within the same ring.