HEXARHODIUM HEXADECACARBONYL

black crystal(s); cluster structure; used as a catalyst [COT88] [ALD94] [ALF95]

Catalyst for hydrogenation of alkenes, hydroformylations ofalkenes; reducing agent for aldehydes, ketones, and nitro groups; catalyst for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds

Hexadecacarbonylhexarhodium could be prepared from Rhodium(III) Chloride or Pentacarbonyliron and RhCl3.3H2O.

core: rhodium
reagent type: catalyst

It slowly loses CO when heated in air, but may be regenerated by heating at 80-200o in the presence of CO at 200atmospheres pressure for 15hours, preferably in the presence of Cu. It forms black crystals which are insoluble in hexane. It has bands at 2073, 2026 and 1800cm-1 in the IR. [Hieber & Lagally Z Anorg Allgem Chem 251 96 1963, Corey & Dahl J Am Chem Soc 85 1202 1963, Doyle et al. Tetrahedron Lett 22 1783 1981.] POISONOUS.

1. Booth, B. L.; Else, M. J.; Fields, R.; Goldwhite, H.; Haszeldine, R. N. JOM 1968, 14, 417.
2. Lausarot, P. M.; Vaglio, G. A.: Valle, M. JOM 1981, 204, 249.