Orthometalation of Tris(3-sodium sulfonatophenyl)phosphine with Dirhodium(II) Acetate

Tetraacetatodirhodium(II) reacts with tris(3-sodium sulfonatophenyl)phosphine (TPPTS) giving [Rh2(μ-OOCCH3)3{μ-(3-NaO3SC6H3)P(C6H4SO3Na-3)2}(HOOCCH3)]·6H2O (1) and [Rh2(μ-OOCCH3)2{μ-(3-NaO3SC6H3)P(C6H4SO3Na-3)2}2(HOOCCH3)]·12H2O (2). Their structures and properties have been studied by electronic, IR, and 31P{1H}, 1H, 1H{31P}, and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies. In compound 1, one of the acetate bridges is replaced by a phosphine ligand, orthometalated via the C2 carbon atom of the phenyl ring. One axial site of the Rh24+ core is occupied by a sulfonato group of the metalated ring and another one by a labile molecule of acetic acid. 1H NMR spectroscopy shows that chemical shifts of the aromatic…