Product Diversity in the Reaction of [(norbornadiene){CpP( i Pr) 2 }Rh] with Alkyl Iodides

The reagents [(CpPR 2 )Li] [R = i Pr ( 2b ), cyclohexyl ( 2c )] react with [(nbd)RhCl] (nbd = norbornadiene) dimer [( 1a ) 2 ] to yield the respective mononuclear complexes [(nbd)Rh(CpPR 2 )] ( 3b , c ). Subsequent treatment of 3b with a large excess of MeI led to the formation of the stable organometallic phosphonium salt [(nbd)Rh{CpP( i Pr) 2 Me}]I ( 4b ). The analogous reaction of 3b with the slightly more bulky EtI or n PrI resulted in the formation of the dinuclear [μ‐CpP( i Pr) 2 ]‐bridged dirhodium complex [(nbd)Rh{CpP( i Pr) 2 }Rh(nbd)I] ( 5b ) and the corresponding ylides C 5 H 4 P( i Pr) 2 R 1 [R 1 = Et ( 6b ), n Pr ( 6c )]. The rhodium complexes 3b , 4a and 5b were characterised by X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)