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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I)
Published on: November 22, 2016
Interactions of Rh(III)-dihydrido-bis(phosphine) complexes with semicarbazones
Maria B Ezhova1, Brian O Patrick, Kapila N Sereviratne
1Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Abstract:
Interaction of cis,trans,cis-[Rh(H)2(PR3)2(acetone)2]PF6 complexes (R = aryl or R3 = Ph2Me, Ph2Et) under H2 with E-semicarbazones gives the Rh(III)-dihydrido-bis(phosphine)-semicarbazone species cis,trans-[Rh(H)2(PR3)2{R'(R' ')C=N-N(H)CONH2}]PF6, where R' and R' ' are Ph, Et, or Me. The complexes are generally characterized by elemental analysis, 31P{1H} NMR, 1H NMR, and IR spectroscopies, and MS. X-ray analysis of three PPh3 complexes reveals chelation of E-semicarbazones by the imine-N atom and the carbonyl-O atom. In contrast, the corresponding reaction of [Rh(H)2(PPhMe2)2(acetone)2]PF6 with acetophenone semicarbazone gives the ortho-metalated-semicarbazone species cis-[RhH(PPhMe2)2{o-C6H4(Me)C=N-N(H)CONH2}]PF6. The X-ray structure of E-propiophenone semicarbazone is also reported. Rhodium-catalyzed, homogeneous hydrogenation of semicarbazones was not observed even at 40 atm H2.
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One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
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Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.

