A unique acetylene-induced reductive PPh3→ PH3 stripping of phenyl groups from triphenylphosphine ligands bound to a metallaborane ‘B-frame’ matrix

Abstract

Passage of acetylene through a refluxing solution of [6,6,6-(PPh₃)(Ph₂P-o-[graphic omitted]5] in benzene results in cluster condensation to yield air-stable pale yellow [10-(PPh₃)-2,2,2-(PH₃)₂(Ph₂ P-o-[graphic omitted]](yield 47% based on Ir; 95% based on P) which exhibits two Ir-bound PH₃ ligands arising from the reductive PPh₃→ PH₃ stripping of phenyl groups from the Ir-bound PPh₃ ligands of the starting complex.