Preconversion catalytic deoxygenation of phenolic functional groups. Quarterly technical progress report, April 1, 1995--June 30, 1995

The complex, [Rh(triphos)CO] [PF{sub 6}] [triphos = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenyl phosphine], 4, has been reacted with a series of aryloxides, ROH [R = C{sub 6}H{sub 5}, C{sub 6}H{sub 4}-p-CH{sub 3}, C{sub 6}H{sub 4}-p-OCH{sub 3}]. The resulting aryloxycarbonyl complexes are observable by FTIR spectroscopy. These rhodium aryloxycarbonyl complexes decay to form Rh(triphos)OR, 1-3, or [Rh(triphos)CO]PF{sub 6}, 4, through the fac- and mer-isomers of Rh(triphos)(CO)OR. These reactions were followed by FT-IR, {sup 31}P({sup 1}H)VT-NMR, under reaction conditions where carbon monoxide both could and could not escape. The conditions under which the carbon monoxide could not escape enabled the observation of [Rh(triphos)(CO){sub 2}] 5, by {sup 31}P ({sup 1H}) NMR and FT-IR