Is it possible to stabilise complexes with a tungsten–phosphorus triple bond?

Abstract

[W(CO)₂{η⁴-(Bu^t₂C₂P₂)W(CO)₅}{η^-2-(Bu^tCP)W(CO)₅}]1 is prepared by treatment of Bu^tCP with [W(CO)₅THF]; the reaction of [W₂(OBu^t)₆] with Bu^tCP in the presence of [M(CO)₅THF](M = Cr, W) affords novel compounds of the type [(Bu^tO)₃WP→M(CO)₅](M = Cr, W), the first examples of a formal WP containing complex.