Abstract
A pseudo-dearomatized (PNP)-P-3*Rh-CO complex reacts with various alkyl/benzyl halides to furnish a series of second-generation (PNP)-P-3-pincer carbonyl complexes via the ligand post-modification strategy. These synthesized complexes were fully characterized by NMR, FTIR, HRMS, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for the formation of 2(nd)-generation (PNP)-P-3 complexes was proposed based on the isolation of the minor dialkylated products.