Rhodium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as catalysts for the anti-markovnikov hydroaminations of styrene

Abstract

A series of new rhodium(I) complexes with benzimidazole based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand were synthesized by reactions of benzimidazolium salts with [Rh(OMe)COD]2. The characterization of rhodium(I) complexes with the general formula [RhCl(NHC)(4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)] was done by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. All the synthesized complexes were tested as catalysts in the intermolecular hydroamination reactions between styrene with aromatic amines in ionic liquid. All of these complexes tested here are catalytically active for the intermolecular hydroamination of styrene with aromatic amines in ionic liquid. The anti-Markovnikov addition products were obtained selectively by using 1 mol% of the rhodium complex. © 2021 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry.