Compounds with multiple bonds between adjacent phosphorus atoms constantly attract attention. One of the most intriguing classes of these compounds are phosphanylphosphinidenes.
Jerzy Pikies and colleagues, Gdansk University of Technology, Poland, showed that lithiated diphosphanes R2P–P(SiMe3)Li (R = iPr, tBu) react in DME with imido complexes [(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)2-WCl2•DME] to yield a new type of anionic tungsten phosphanylphosphinidene complexes Li+[(η2-R2PP)W(Cl)(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)2]–.
Both anionic diimido complexes of tungsten with side-on bonded phosphanylphosphinidene ligands, [(ArN)2WCl(η2-R2P–P)]–, were structurally characterized. A possible reaction mechanism and the role of donor solvents were discussed on the basis of NMR spectroscopic results.
The reactions present a practical method to prepare phosphanylphosphinidene complexes of transition metals at high oxidation states.
- Access to Side-On Bonded Tungsten Phosphanylphosphinidene Complexes,
Rafał Grubba, Katarzyna Baranowska, Jarosław Chojnacki, Jerzy Pikies,
Europ. J. Inorg. Chem. 2012.
DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201200456
