Competitive C-I versus C-CN Reductive Elimination from a Rh" Complex. Selectivity is Controlled by the Solvent.

The article presents a study on the competitive reductive elimination (RE) from a [RhIII(CH3)(CN)][I] complex to give CH3CN in protic olvents and CH3I in aprotic solvents. It states that the reductively eliminated CHI undergoes selective electrophilic attack on the cyano ligand of the RhI complex in an aprotic solvent to give the corresponding alkyl isonitrile complex.