The first structurally authenticated alkali metal 1,3-diphosphaallyl complex [{ButC(PMes)2}Li(thf)3] (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2): an alternative synthetic approach to substituted 1,3-diphosphaallyl complexes

Abstract

Reaction of the phosphavinyl Grignard reagent [Z-MesPC(Bu^t)MgBr.OEt₂]₂ (Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂) with MesPCl₂ affords the corresponding 1,3-diphosphapropene compound [Z-MesPC(Bu^t)P(X)Mes] (X = Cl, Br); subsequent reaction with two equivalents of elemental lithium in thf affords the title compound [{Bu^tC(PMes)₂}Li(thf)₃], which contains an asymmetric η¹-1,3-diphosphaallyl ligand.