A bioorganometallic chemistry perspective: Organometallic chemistry at the interface with biology

The synthon, dication [Cp*Rh(H2O)3](OTf)2, with its X-ray structure shown, was a key to the preparation of many of our Cp*Rh complexes reported in this ISBOMC′14 award paper. It's mononuclear structure is pH dependent, and stable from pH 2-5, while at higher pH values, 5-7, a dynamic equilibrium is initiated to a putative intermediate, [Cp*Rh(μ-OH) (H2O)]2(OTf)2, which at pH > 7 forms the thermodynamic sink, [(Cp*Rh)2(μ-OH)3](OH). Thus, the Cp*Rh complexes found in the award paper emanate from all three Cp*Rh aqua complexes, as a function of pH.115