On the behaviour of biradicaloid [P(μ-NTer)]2 towards Lewis acids and bases

Abstract

The well-known diphosphadiazane-1,3-diyl [P(μ-NTer)]₂ (Ter = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-phenyl) was treated with Lewis bases such as N-heterocyclic carbenes and Lewis acids e.g. gold(I) chloride complexes. In the reaction with the Lewis base, fragmentation of the P₂N₂ framework was observed, yielding a salt of the type [(NHC)₂P]⁺[(TerN)₂P]⁻ in a clean reaction. The reaction of [P(μ-NTer)]₂ with gold(I) chloride afforded 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes. The dinuclear complex [(ClAu)₂P(μ-NTer)₂P] displays a bridging P atom between both gold centers, as has been observed for P based zwitterions.