Access to the first (iminophosphoranyl)(selenophosphoranyl)methane ligands Ph2P(Se)CH2P(NR)Ph2: coordination of their methanide and methandiide anions to ruthenium

Abstract

A family of mixed (iminophosphoranyl)(selenophosphoranyl)methane ligands of general composition Ph₂P(Se)CH₂P(NR)Ph₂ have been synthesized by oxidation of Ph₂PCH₂P(NR)Ph₂ with elemental selenium. In the presence of Et₃N, these ligands react with [{RuCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)}₂] to afford mononuclear Ru(II) species in which the resulting methanide anions adopt a tridentate coordination. Further deprotonation with KH generates carbenic ruthenium derivatives which participate, under remarkably mild conditions, in C–C coupling processes with isocyanides.