Insertion of zirconocene into the carbon–halogen bond of 2-halophosphinines

Abstract

Insertion of zirconocene into the C–X bond of 2-halophosphinines (X = Cl, Br) takes place between –80 and 20 °C in tetrahydrofuran (THF); the X-ray crystal structure analysis of such an insertion product shows a normal geometry at zirconium and a highly delocalised phosphinine ring with all C[graphic omitted]C and the two P[graphic omitted]C bonds being strictly equal at 1.395 and 1.726 Å, respectively; protonation, deuteriation and halogenation of these products lead to the expected phosphinines by cleavage of Zr–C bond.