The F/Ph rearrangement reaction of [(Ph3P)3RhF], the fluoride congener of Wilkinson's catalyst.

The fluoride congener of Wilkinson's catalyst, [(Ph(3)P)(3)RhF] (1), has been synthesized and fully characterized. Unlike Wilkinson's catalyst, 1 easily activates the inert C-Cl bond of ArCl (Ar = Ph, p-tolyl) under mild conditions (3 h at 80 degrees C) to produce trans-[(Ph(3)P)(2)Rh(Ph(2)PF)(Cl)] (2) and ArPh as a result of C-Cl, Rh-F, and P-C bond cleavage and C-C, Rh-Cl, and P-F bond formation. In benzene (2-3 h at 80 degrees C), 1 decomposes to a 1:1 mixture of trans-[(Ph(3)P)(2)Rh(Ph(2)PF)(F)] (3) and the cyclometalated complex [(Ph(3)P)(2)Rh(Ph(2)PC(6)H(4))] (4). Both the chloroarene activation and the thermal decomposition reactions have been shown to occur via the facile and reversible F/Ph rearrangement reaction of 1 to cis-[(Ph(3)P)(2)Rh(Ph)(Ph(2)PF)] (5), which has been isolated and fully characterized. Kinetic studies of the F/Ph rearrangement, an intramolecular process not influenced by extra phosphine, have led to the determination of E(a) = 22.7 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-)(1), DeltaH(++) = 22.0 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-)(1), and DeltaS(++) = -10.0 +/- 3.7 eu. Theoretical studies of F/Ph exchange with the [(PH(3))(2)(PH(2)Ph)RhF] model system pointed to two possible mechanisms: (i) Ph transfer to Rh followed by F transfer to P (formally oxidative addition followed by reductive elimination, pathway 1) and (ii) F transfer to produce a metallophosphorane with subsequent Ph transfer to Rh (pathway 2). Although pathway 1 cannot be ruled out completely, the metallophosphorane mechanism finds more support from both our own and previously reported observations. Possible involvement of metallophosphorane intermediates in various P-F, P-O, and P-C bond-forming reactions at a metal center is discussed.