Abstract
The oxidative addition of X2Hg to trans-Ir(C6F5) (CO) (PPh3)2 leads to the preparation of organometallic complexes of iridium which contain an Ir-Hg bond, XHg-IrX (C6F5) (CO) (PPh3)2, (X[dbnd]Cl,Br,I). However, the same reactions with trans-Rh(C6F5) (CO) (PPh3)2 result in the elimination of XHg (C6F5), producing trans-RhX (CO) (PPh3)2. The latter complexes are oxidized in the presence of an excess of X2Hg and halocomplexes with a Rh-Hg bond, XHg-RhX2 (CO) (PPh3)2, are obtained.