Tp*Rh(cod) is a catalyst that can be used to polymerize phenylacetylene derivatives. It contains a rhodium ion and a boron centered scorpionate ligand in which three dimethylpyrazole rings are attached to the boron atom. We are interested in determining the effect of scorpionate ligand structure on the efficacy of the catalyst. The purpose of this study is to use <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy to determine the active form of the catalyst that forms between Tp*Rh(cod) and 4-ethynyltoluene. These studies show that only a small fraction of the catalyst complexes in the reaction mixture participate in the reaction. Most are inactive. In the catalyst complexes that do react, cyclooctadiene is detached from the rhodium ion.

NMR study of the active form of the polymerization catalyst formed between Tp*Rh(cod) and 4-ethynyltoluene

249th National Meeting (2015)

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