Iodomethane oxidative addition and CO migratory insertion in monocarbonylphosphine complexes of the type [Rh((C6H5)COCHCO((CH2)nCH3))(CO)(PPh3)]: Steric and electronic effects

Kinetic studies on the first oxidative addition step of [Rh((C6H5)COCHCOR)(CO)(PPh3)] + CH3I to form [Rh((C6H5)COCHCOR)(CH3)(CO)(PPh3)(I)], R = (CH2)nCH3, n = 1-3, revealed a second order oxidative addition rate constant approximately 500-600 times faster than that observed for the Monsanto catalyst [Rh(CO)2I2]−.