New Rh(I) and Rh(III) bisimidazol-2-ylidene complexes: synthesis, reactivity, and molecular structures.

New chelate bis-heterocyclic-carbene complexes of Rh(I) and Rh(III) have been obtained and fully characterized. The molecular structures of the new species have been determined. The synthesis of the compounds starts from the bisimidazolium precursors, which are deprotonated with NEt(3) under mild reaction conditions, leading to coordination to the Rh complex. The Rh(III) compounds are generated from Rh(I) and [Rh(II)](2) species, although there is no apparent oxidizing agent in the reaction media.