Decarbonylation of benzoyl fluoride by tris (tripheny1phosphine) rhodium chloride was observed in reactions carried out either in excess, neat benzoyl fluoride, or using solvents like benzene, toluene, o-xylene, and a-methylnaphthalene. Best results were obtained either in reactions in neat benzoyl fluoride or in o-xylene as solvent. Reactions were carried at 80- 120" heating the reaction mixture for 1 hr, then distilling off products and analyzing by glpc ...
