Patent ID: 7495097

Claim:
A rhodium quinonoid catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising the formula (I) wherein X − is selected from the group consisting of BF 4 − , SbF 6 − , PO 2 F 2 − , PF 6 − , OTf − , − OTs, SO 4 2− , B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 − , B(C 6 H 5 ) 4 − , ClO 4 − , NO 3 − , NO 2 − , HOSO 3 − , CO 3 2− , O 3 SCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 − wherein OTf=O 3 SCF 3 − ; OTs=O 3 SC 6 H 4 CH 3 − ; R′CO 2 − ; wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl or carbon atom bearing three identical or non-identical substituents; wherein L 1 and L 2 are each a ligand that donates electron density to rhodium to stabilize it; wherein is either chiral or achiral and M 1 and M 2 are OH and R is selected from the group consisting of H, C, O, N and S, with or without substituents, said substituents being identical or non-identical.