Coordination chemistry of a low-coordinate non-metal element: the case of electrophilic terminal phosphinidene complexes

Abstract

3-Imino-azaphosphiridine complex 1 reacts with carbon monoxide to give 1,3-azaphosphetidinone complex 2, whereas with isocyanides 3a,b substitution occurred to yield complexes 4a,b. Oxidation of 1 using elemental sulfur afforded the first 1,3,2-thiazaphosphetidine-4-imine complex 5. DFT calculations provide insight into a manifold of pathways based on a common intermediate, a carbodiimide-to-phosphinidene complex, leading to P–N and P–C bond insertion products as well as ligand substitution products.