Abstract: The catalytic decarbonylation of aroyl chlorides, bromides, and cyanides with chlorotris (tripheny1-phosphine) rhodium (I) has been investigated; particular attention has been paid to polycyclic aroyl halides. A theory of the mechanism of decarbonylation has been suggested which accounts for the observations made in this study, The essential features of the theory are the formation of V, its isomerization to VI, and the loss of carbon ...
