Synthesis of Highly Fluorinated Arene Complexes of [Rh(Chelating Phosphine)](+) Cations, and their use in Synthesis and Catalysis

The synthesis of rhodium complexes with weakly binding highly fluorinated benzene ligands is described: 1,2,3-F(3) C(6) H(3) , 1,2,3,4-F(4) C(6) H(2) and 1,2,3,4,5-F(5) C(6) H are shown to bind with cationic [Rh(Cy(2) P(CH(2) )(x) PCy(2) )](+) fragments (x=1, 2). Their structures and reactivity with alkenes, and use in catalysis for promoting the Tishchenko reaction of a simple aldehyde, are demonstrated. Key to the synthesis of these complexes is the highly concentrated reaction conditions and use of the [Al{OC(CF(3) )(3) }(4) ](-) anion.