The study of alkene isomerization catalyzed by the system: Rhodium dimeric complex-tertiary phosphine-tin dichloride

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02496206

Rhodium(I) dimeric complexes, [(Ph₃P)₄Rh₂Cl₂] and [(C₂H₄)₄Rh₂Cl₂], form active catalysts for alkenes isomerization on interaction with tertiary phosphine and tin dichloride in CH₂Cl₂. Besides 2-methylbut-2-ene, which is the normal product of 1,2-double bond migration, 3-methylbut-1-ene gives the product of unusual 1,3-double bond migration, 2-methylbut-1-ene, which is formed at early stages of the reaction under kinetic control in over-equilibrium quantities. The proposed mechanism for 1,3-double bond migration includes the methyl C-H bond activation, followed by intramolecular transfer hydrogenation.