Synthesis of the first 1,2,3,4-azatriphospholene complex

Abstract

Synthesis of the first 1,2,3,4-azatriphospholene complex was achieved by heating a solution of a P-phenyl-substituted 7-phosphanorbornadiene tungsten complex and triphenylphosphonio cyanomethylide, whereby CH-insertion products were formed in a competing reaction; these results also provide first evidence for the ability of electrophilic terminal phosphanediyl complexes to react at the ylide carbon atom and at the carbonitrile nitrogen atom of Wittig-ylides having a nitrile functional group; the structures of both complexes were established through X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies.