SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RHODIUM COMPLEXES [RH(AZ)(L)CL] (AZ = 2,2-DIMETHYL-3-PHENYL-3-ALLYLAZIRIDINE - L = C2H4, CO, OR PPH3) - CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF [RH(AZ)(CO)CL]

2,2-Dimethyl-3-phenyl-3-allylaziridine (Az) reacts with Cramer's complex [{Rh(C2H4)2Cl}2] to give [Rh(Az)(C2H4)Cl]. This new complex is transformed by carbon monoxide into [Rh(Az)(CO)Cl], which can be also prepared starting from [{Rh(CO2)Cl}2]. The crystal and molecular structure of this carbonyl species has been fully solved by X-ray diffraction, providing the first example of a complex with bidentate aziridine. The ethylene complex reacts with one equivalent of triphenylphosphine to give [Rh(Az)(PPh3)Cl]. A second equivalent of phosphine does not create a monodentate aziridine, but displaces this ligand. Similar behaviour is observed with the carbonyl complex which gives free aziridine and trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh3)2Cl].