Reactivity of Rh(I) Complexes Toward Fluorinated Ethers: Activation of Inhalation Anesthetics
- 1Department of Chemistry Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
Abstract
The reactivity of [Rh(H)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 1 ) toward α‐fluorinated ethers that are commonly used as inhalational anesthetics was studied. Unprecedented reactivity pathways include hydrodehalogenation of sp ³ C─F and C─Cl bonds under mild conditions. The reaction of 1 with sevoflurane (CF ₃ ) ₂ CHOCH ₂ F provides an efficient route to obtain [Rh(F)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 2 ) by C( sp ³ )─F bond activation. Furthermore, the phosphine ligand takes part in this reaction, and an F/Et exchange at [Rh(H)(F) ₂ (PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] results in the formation of the fluorophosphine complex trans ‐[Rh(F)(Et ₂ PF)(PEt ₃ ) ₂ ] ( 5 ) upon the release of ethane. On the other hand, an oxidative addition of enflurane CClFHCF ₂ OCF ₂ H at 1 yielded [Rh(H)(Cl)(CFHCF ₂ OCF ₂ H)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 8 ), which is followed by a reductive elimination step to yield [Rh(Cl)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 7 ) and the hydrofluoroether CFH ₂ CF ₂ OCF ₂ H. When an isomer of enflurane, isoflurane CF ₃ CClHOCF ₂ H, was treated with 1 , complex 7 and CF ₃ CH ₂ OCF ₂ H are generated by C( sp ³ )─Cl bond activation. Additionally, an in situ nucleophilic attack of triethylphosphine at the hydrofluoroether CF ₃ CH ₂ OCF ₂ H gave a unique fluorinated phosphonium salt [CF ₃ CH ₂ PEt ₃ ] ₂ [SiF ₆ ] ( 9 ). Catalytic hydrodechlorination of isoflurane at a mild condition was achieved in the presence of silane HSiPh ₃ using 1 as a catalyst.
Versions
Related
- Fluorinated Arylethynyl Substituents in Zn(II) Complexes of Azadipyrromethene Guide Self-Assembly in Crystals
- Second‐Sphere Aromatic Substitutions That Tune H‐Atom Transfer Reactivity Observed for a Series of S = 1 Nonheme FeIV=O Complexes: An Enthalpy‐Entropy Compensation Effect
- A Dinucleating β-Thio-δ-Diiminate Ligand Enables Metal-Dependent CO2 Reactivity in Homo- and Heterobimetallic Zn and Cu Complexes
- Redox-Promoted Reactivity of Uranium, Neptunium, and Plutonium Diamide Complexes
- Influence of accessory minerals on the thermal activation and reactivity of bentonites
BibTeX
@article{mollasalehi2026reactivity,
title = {{Reactivity of Rh(I) Complexes Toward Fluorinated Ethers: Activation of Inhalation Anesthetics}},
author = {Soodeh Mollasalehi and Jakob Bölle and Thomas Braun},
journal = {ChemistryOpen},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/open.70328},
url = {https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/open.70328},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Reactivity of Rh(I) Complexes Toward Fluorinated Ethers: Activation of Inhalation Anesthetics
AU - Soodeh Mollasalehi
AU - Jakob Bölle
AU - Thomas Braun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - ChemistryOpen
DO - 10.1002/open.70328
UR - https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/open.70328
AB - The reactivity of [Rh(H)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 1 ) toward α‐fluorinated ethers that are commonly used as inhalational anesthetics was studied. Unprecedented reactivity pathways include hydrodehalogenation of sp ³ C─F and C─Cl bonds under mild conditions. The reaction of 1 with sevoflurane (CF ₃ ) ₂ CHOCH ₂ F provides an efficient route to obtain [Rh(F)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 2 ) by C( sp ³ )─F bond activation. Furthermore, the phosphine ligand takes part in this reaction, and an F/Et exchange at [Rh(H)(F) ₂ (PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] results in the formation of the fluorophosphine complex trans ‐[Rh(F)(Et ₂ PF)(PEt ₃ ) ₂ ] ( 5 ) upon the release of ethane. On the other hand, an oxidative addition of enflurane CClFHCF ₂ OCF ₂ H at 1 yielded [Rh(H)(Cl)(CFHCF ₂ OCF ₂ H)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 8 ), which is followed by a reductive elimination step to yield [Rh(Cl)(PEt ₃ ) ₃ ] ( 7 ) and the hydrofluoroether CFH ₂ CF ₂ OCF ₂ H. When an isomer of enflurane, isoflurane CF ₃ CClHOCF ₂ H, was treated with 1 , complex 7 and CF ₃ CH ₂ OCF ₂ H are generated by C( sp ³ )─Cl bond activation. Additionally, an in situ nucleophilic attack of triethylphosphine at the hydrofluoroether CF ₃ CH ₂ OCF ₂ H gave a unique fluorinated phosphonium salt [CF ₃ CH ₂ PEt ₃ ] ₂ [SiF ₆ ] ( 9 ). Catalytic hydrodechlorination of isoflurane at a mild condition was achieved in the presence of silane HSiPh ₃ using 1 as a catalyst.
SN - 2191-1363
SN - 2191-1363
ER -