Polyamino acids and cytochrome C anchored rhodium complexes

Polyamino acids (amino acid = valine, alanine, lysine and arginine) and the protein cytochrome C (Cyt C) have been treated with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 (1) to give polymersupported cis-dicarbonyl species. The polymer-supported rhodium complexes, characterised on the basis of infrared and ESCA data, have been found to undergo reversible decarbonylation reaction. The Cyt C-supported rhodium complex acts as a hydrogenation catalyst of low to moderate activity. In the hydrogenation of 3-methyl cyclohexanone no stereoselectivity has been observed. © 1992 Indian Academy of Sciences.