Unusual stability of reaction intermediates in ortho-metalation reactions of dicyclohexylphenylphosphane with dirhodium(II) tetraacetate

► Synthesis of dirhodium acetate complexes with singly and doubly ortho-metalated dicyclohexylphenylphosphane ligands. ► Unusual thermodynamic stability of a singly ortho-metalated complex with axial PhPCy2 ligand. ► A doubly ortho-metalated dirhodium complex with triflouroacetate ligands can be isolated with or without axial ligands.