One-step synthesis and P–H bond cleavage reactions of the phosphanyl complex syn-[MoCp{PH(2,4,6-C6H2tBu3)}(CO)2] to give heterometallic phosphinidene-bridged derivatives

Abstract

Photolysis of [Mo₂Cp₂(CO)₆] and PH₂R* (R* = 2,4,6-C₆H₂^tBu₃) yielded the title complex, which turned out to be a versatile precursor of novel heterometallic phosphinidene-bridged complexes via three different P–H bond activation processes: photolysis, deprotonation and reduction. In this way the new complexes [MoReCp(μ-PR*)(CO)_n] (n = 6,7), [MoFeCp₂(μ-PR*)(CO)_m], (m = 3, 4) and [MoAuCp(μ-PR*)(CO)₂{P(p-tol)₃}] were prepared.