Deoxygenation of 2-nitrosophenols and of their metal complexes with triphenylphosphine. Synthesis of phenazines, dihydrophenazines, triphenyl(o-hydroxyphenylimino)phosphoranes and their metal complexes

Abstract

Deoxygenation of 2-nitrosophenols with Ph₃P affords dihydrophenazines, whereas deoxygenation of their Ni^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, and Fe^III complexes yields phenazines or complexes of triphenyl(o-hydroxyphenylimino)phosphoranes depending on the metal; these reactions are interpreted in terms of nitrene intermediates.