Fluorinated N-heterocyclic carbenes rhodium (I) complexes and their activity in hydrosilylation of propargylic alcohols

► Three new rhodium complexes with fluorinated N-heterocyclic carbenes are reported. ► Hydrosylilation catalysis of two propargylic alcohols afforded isomers E and gem with all the catalysts tested. ► The cationic form of the catalysts with triphenylphosphine as an additional ligand gave only the E isomer.