A novel access to phosphanylidene–phosphorane complexes via P-donor substitution and a detailed bonding analysis

Abstract

Phospha–Wittig reagents such as phosphanylidene–phosphoranes and their transition metal complexes are of great interest as sources of P₁ building blocks but the access is still limited. Herein, we describe a new access to phosphanylidene–phosphorane complexes starting from the N-methylimidazole-to-phosphinidene complex adduct. The complexes were studied electrochemically and theoretically, also with respect to their ³¹P NMR data, and the P–P bonds were evaluated by various DFT-derived descriptors.