Abstract

This paper describes catalytic activation studies of the water-gas shift reaction by m-[Rh(CO)2(amine)2]PF6 (amine = 4-picoline, 3-picoline, 2-picoline, pyridine, or 2,6-lutidinc) heterogenised on poly(4-vinylpyridne) in aqueous 2-ethoxyethanoI. The effect of varying the nature of the amine was investigated. The rhodium complexes bearing 4-picoline (4-pic) ligands proved to be most active among those surveyed, and displaying turnover frequencies for hydrogen production of 8.9 mol of H2 per mole of Rh per day for 9.4 × 10-5 mol cis-[Rh(CO)2(4-pic)2]PF6/l.00 g poly(4-vinylpyridine), P(CO) = 0.9 atm at 100°C.