Photochemical C-H bond activation reactivity of (HBPz'3)Rh(CO)2 (Pz' = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) in alkane solutions

The thermal chemistry and photochemistry of the intermolecular C-H bond activating complex (HBPz'3)Rh(CO)2, where Pz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl, have been investigated. Excitations were performed at 313-458 nm into the lowest energy absorption band and were monitored by in-situ UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopies. The results showed that the photochemistry is exceptionally clean, with complete conversion of the complex to the (HBPz'3)Rh(CO)(R)H photoproducts. The photochemical reactions were shown to originate from two low-lying LF state with different activities.