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The metalation/transmetalation strategy using [Zr(NMe2)4] as initial metalating reagent offers an efficient approach to the synthesis of CCC–NHC pincer complexes. Many CCC–NHC pincer complexes have been prepared via this methodology. As efficient as this methodology is, many questions remained as to the mechanism for the process, particularly the requirement of two equivalents of Rh per proligand for good yields. Previously, no intermediates have been reported to shed light on the mechanism. In the process of investigating an intermediate and the mechanism of the metalation/transmetalation methodology, a new mixed valent bimetallic CCC–NHC pincer Rh complex with two chloro ligands bridged between a [(CCC–NHC)Rh(III)] and a [Rh(I)(COD)] fragment was isolated and fully characterized. The investigation of the Rh(III)/Rh(I) bimetallic intermediate in the CCC–NHC pincer metalation/transmetalation methodology led to an improved stoichiometric synthesis of CCC–NHC pincer Rh complexes. It was found that switching the proligand from iodide to chloride counterion obviated the need for an extra equivalent of Rh. The iodide bridged Rh(III)/Rh(I) intermediate was much more stable and prevented further reaction in comparison to the chloride congener. When it was switched to only chloride present the reaction quickly gave efficient, complete transmetalation with only a 1:1 ratio of proligand:Rh. 

Herein we report an experimental and computational study of a family of four coordinated 14-electron complexes of Rh( iii ) devoid of agostic interactions. The complexes [X–Rh(κ 3 ( P,Si,Si )PhP( o -C 6 H 4 CH 2 Si i Pr 2 ) 2 ], where X = Cl (Rh-1), Br (Rh-2), I (Rh-3), OTf (Rh-4), Cl·GaCl 3 (Rh-5); derive from a bis(silyl)- o -tolylphosphine with isopropyl substituents on the Si atoms. All five complexes display a sawhorse geometry around Rh and exhibit similar spectroscopic and structural properties. The catalytic activity of these complexes and [Cl–Ir(κ 3 ( P,Si,Si )PhP( o -C 6 H 4 CH 2 Si i Pr 2 ) 2 ], Ir-1, in styrene and aliphatic alkene functionalizations with hydrosilanes is disclosed. We show that Rh-1 catalyzes effectively the dehydrogenative silylation of styrene with Et 3 SiH in toluene while it leads to hydrosilylation products in acetonitrile. Rh-1 is an excellent catalyst in the sequential isomerization/hydrosilylation of terminal and remote aliphatic alkenes with Et 3 SiH including hexene isomers, leading efficiently and selectively to the terminal anti-Markonikov hydrosilylation product in all cases. With aliphatic alkenes, no hydrogenation products are observed. Conversely, catalysis of the same hexene isomers by Ir-1 renders allyl silanes, the tandem isomerization/dehydrogenative silylation products. A mechanistic proposal is made to explain the catalysis with these M( iii ) complexes.