Facile Rh-C Bond Cleavage Of Rhodium(Iii) Benzyl Porphyrin Complex In Dmso With Strong Bases

Rhodium-carbon bond cleavage represents an essential step for small molecule activation and transformation by rhodium porphyrin complexes. This article reports on a new method for the cleavage of porphyrin rhodium(III)-carbon bonds in DMSO solvent with strong bases. UV-Vis, in situ H-1 NMR spectrum and GC-MS analysis confirmed generation of rhodium(I) species and monodeuterated toluene. Mechanistic studies revealed that strongly reducing CD3SOCD2-, formed in situ from DMSO-d(6) and strong bases, promoted Rh-C bond cleavage.