Optically active rhodium complexes with indenyl-linked phosphane ligands

The complexation of (S)-[2-(4,7-dimethyl-3H-inden-1-yl)-1-phenylethyl]diphenylphosphane with [Rh(μ-Cl)(η2-CH2CH2)2]2 affords the two diastereomers (S,Rpl)-Rh3 and (S,Spl)-Rh4 in a ratio that depends strongly on the solvent. The complexes undergo oxidative addition of CH3I with high diastereoselectivity.