Wilkinson’s Catalyst

Basic Information of Wilkinson's Catalyst

CAS No.	14694-95-2
EC No.	238-744-4
Chemical Formula	RhCl(P(C₆H₅)₃)₃
Molecular Weight	925.22 g/mol
Appearance	Bright red to orange-red crystalline powder
Odor	Odorless
Melting point	157–158 °C (decomposes)
Boiling point	Not applicable (decomposes)
Density	approx. 1.4 g/cm³
Solubility	Insoluble in water; soluble in benzene, toluene, dichloromethane, chloroform, THF
Nature (hazards)	Harmful if swallowed, may cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life, air-sensitive in solution
RIDADR	Not regulated (not subject to transport regulations as hazardous material in many classifications)
Chemical Structure

Primary Applications of Wilkinson's Catalyst

Wilkinson's catalyst remains the gold standard for selective homogeneous hydrogenation, delivering unmatched activity and functional group tolerance in synthetic applications.

1. Selective Hydrogenation of Alkenes & Alkynes
   Enables rapid, stereospecific reduction of carbon-carbon multiple bonds in the presence of diverse functional groups, ideal for pharmaceutical intermediates and natural product synthesis.

2. Hydrogenation of Polar Unsaturated Bonds
   Catalyzes efficient reduction of carbonyls, imines, and nitro groups under mild conditions, offering excellent chemoselectivity in complex molecules.

3. Isomerization & Rearrangement Reactions
   Promotes alkene isomerization and allylic rearrangements with high regioselectivity, useful in fragrance and flavor compound production.

4. Hydrosilylation Catalysis
   Supports rhodium-catalyzed addition of Si-H bonds to unsaturated systems, providing efficient routes to organosilicon compounds and silicone modifications.

5. Pharmaceutical & Fine Chemical Synthesis
   Widely applied in GMP processes for reduction steps of active pharmaceutical ingredients, delivering scalability, high selectivity, and easy catalyst removal.

6. Catalyst Development & Mechanistic Studies
   Serves as a standard Rh(I) source for ligand screening, mechanistic investigations, and development of modified rhodium catalytic systems in R&D laboratories.

• Superior Purity & Ligand Integrity
  Rigorous quality controls ensure high Rh content, minimal free PPh₃ or impurities, and preserved coordination sphere for maximum catalytic activity.

• Secure Precious Metal Sourcing
  Transparent, responsible rhodium procurement with inventory buffering to provide supply stability and competitive pricing.

• Technical Catalysis Support
  Dedicated specialists offer reaction optimization, ligand/base screening, scale-up guidance, and troubleshooting to enhance yield and selectivity.

• Comprehensive Regulatory Compliance
  Full COA, REACH, RoHS, and detailed SDS documentation to facilitate seamless integration into global pharmaceutical and fine chemical operations.

• Sustainability & Recycling Programs
  Ethical sourcing practices and rhodium recovery/recycling options aligned with ESG goals and sustainable chemistry principles.

Hazards Classification

• GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity, Oral (Category 4); Aquatic Chronic (Category 4)

• Hazard Statements: H302: Harmful if swallowed; H413: May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life

• UN Number: Not regulated

• Hazard Class: Not classified as hazardous for transport

• Packing Group: Not applicable