Synthesis and Characterization of Rhodium(III) Dichloro Complexes with Unsymmetrically Bound Salen-Type Ligands

We have synthesized a series of novel octahedral Rh(III) salen-type complexes where the salen ligand is
unsymmetrically bound to the Rh(III) dichloride center. This mode of bonding left one intact phenol group
coordinating to the rhodium center and has never before been observed in salen−metal chemistry. These remarkably
stable complexes possess unique coordination geometry and represent the first time that Rh(III) salen complexes
have been successfully isolated from the direct combination of RhCl3·3H2O and the salen ligand in the absence
of a nucleophilic base. The (salen)Rh(III) dichloride complex can be converted to the analogous monochloride
complex by reaction with metal carbonate salts.