REACTION OF FORMALDEHYDE WITH THE WILKINSON COMPLEX IN THE PRESENCE OF CARBOXYLIC ACID AMIDES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00962420

N,N-Dimethylacetamide and N,N-dimethylformamide react with RhCl(PPh3)3 with displacement of PPh3 and the formation of a complex with the amide.Formamide and N-propylacetamide do not form similar complexes under similar conditions.In contrast to the reaction of RhCl(PPh3)3, which leads to the formation of RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2 due to decarbonylation of CH2O, stabilization of the η²-CH2O form of the CH2O coordinated with rhodium is likely in the reaction of formaldehyde with a rhodium complex containing an N-bonded amide.Under the conditions of hydroformylation of CH2O in a solution of the Wilkinson complex in an unsubstituted amide the dominating pathway of the transformation of formaldehyde is its reaction with the solvent or the ammonia formed via decarbonylation of the unsubstituted amide.