Titanium-capped carbon chains as promising new hydrogen storage media

The capacity of Ti-capped sp carbon atomic chains for use as hydrogen storage media is studied using first-principles density functional theory. The Ti atom is strongly attached at one end of the carbon chains via d-p hybridization, forming stable TiC(n) complexes. We demonstrate that the number of adsorbed H(2) molecules on Ti through Kubas interactions depends upon the chain types. For polyyne (n even) or cumulene (n odd) structures, each Ti atom can hold up to five or six H(2) molecules, respectively. Furthermore, the TiC(5) chain effectively terminated on a C(20) fullerene can store hydrogen with an optimal binding energy of 0.52 eV per H(2) molecule. Our results reveal a possible way to explore high-capacity hydrogen storage materials in truly one-dimensional carbon structures.     

First-principles study of hydrogen storage on Li12C60

Solid state materials capable of storing hydrogen with high gravimetric (9 wt %) and volumetric density (70 g/L) are critical for the success of a new hydrogen economy. In addition, an ideal storage system should be able to operate under ambient thermodynamic conditions and exhibit fast hydrogen sorption kinetics. No materials are known that meet all these requirements. While recent theoretical efforts showed some promise for transition-metal-coated carbon fullerenes, later studies demonstrated that these metal atoms prefer to cluster on the fullerene surface, thus reducing greatly the weight percentage of stored hydrogen. Using density functional theory we show that Li-coated fullerenes do not suffer from this constraint. In particular, we find that an isolated Li(12)C(60) cluster where Li atoms are capped onto the pentagonal faces of the fullerene not only is very stable but also can store up to 120 hydrogen atoms in molecular form with a binding energy of 0.075 eV/H(2). In addition, the structural integrity of Li(12)C(60) clusters is maintained when they are allowed to interact with each other. The lowest energy structure of the dimer is one where the Li atom capped on the five-member ring of one fullerene binds to the six-member ring of the other. The binding of hydrogen to the linking Li atom and the potential of materials composed of Li(12)C(60) building blocks for hydrogen storage are discussed.     

A DFT Investigation on Hydrogen Adsorption Based on Alkali-metal Organic Complexes

Using density functional theory calculation based on the B3LYP method,we have studied the interactions of H2 molecules with alkali-metal organic complexes C6H6-nLin(n = 1～3),C6H5Na and C6H5K.A significant part of the electronic charge of M s orbital(Li 2s,Na 3s,K 4s) is donated to phenyl and is accommodated by H2 bonding orbital.For all the complexes considered,each bonded alkali-metal atom can adsorb up to five H2 in molecular form with the mean binding energy of 0.59,0.55 and 0.56 eV/H2 molecule for C6H6-nLin(n = 1～3),C6H5Na and C6H5K,respectively.The kinetic stability of these hydrogen-covered organometallic complexes is discussed in terms of energy gap between HOMO and LUMO.It is remarkable that these alkali-metal organic complexes can store up to 23.80 wt% hydrogen.Therefore,the complexes studied may be used as hydrogen storage materials.     

First-principles study of hydrogen adsorption in metal-doped COF-10

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), due to their low-density, high-porosity, and high-stability, have promising applications in gas storage. In this study we have explored the potential of COFs doped with Li and Ca metal atoms for storing hydrogen under ambient thermodynamic conditions. Using density functional theory we have performed detailed calculations of the sites Li and Ca atoms occupy in COF-10 and their interaction with hydrogen molecules. The binding energy of Li atom on COF-10 substrate is found to be about 1.0 eV and each Li atom can adsorb up to three H(2) molecules. However, at high concentration, Li atoms cluster and, consequently, their hydrogen storage capacity is reduced due to steric hindrance between H(2) molecules. On the other hand, due to charge transfer from Li to the substrate, O sites provide additional enhancement for hydrogen adsorption. With increasing concentration of doped metal atoms, the COF-10 substrate provides an additional platform for storing hydrogen. Similar conclusions are reached for Ca doped COF-10.     

Li修饰B12N12储氢行为的密度泛函理论研究

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理投影缀加波方法, 研究了Li 修饰的B₁₂N₁₂笼子的储氢行为.计算结果表明: Li 原子吸附在B₁₂N₁₂笼子的四元环和六元环相交的B－N桥位上, 相对于其它六个高对称吸附位置更稳定, B₁₂N₁₂笼子周围最多可以吸附3 个Li 原子, 最稳定的构型是三个Li 原子同时吸附在N原子顶位(Top-N site). 每个Li 原子的周围能吸附三个氢分子, 笼子外侧还可以吸附两个氢分子, 内部最多可以吸附5 个氢分子. 考虑到笼内和笼外的吸附, B₁₂N₁₂笼子总的储氢量(氢分子)达到9.1% (w).     

Unprecedented double nucleophilic addition of a hydride at a central carbon of an eta3-allyl ligand

Treatment of eta(3)-allyl compound [Cp(2)Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))](+)(1; Cp =eta(5)-C(5)H(5)) with MH (M = Li, Na) resulted in reduction of the allyl ligand to give propane. Deuterium-labeling studies were used to trace the origins and fates of the hydrogen atoms. The mechanism is discussed in light of the HSAB principle. The studies showed that the formation of propane can be explained by 1,2-hydrogen migration from the central to the terminal carbon of the allyl ligand, and the subsequent double nucleophilic addition of the hydride at the central carbon.     

Interaction of low-energy ions and atoms of light elements with a fluorinated carbon molecular lattice

The mechanism of interaction of low-energy atoms and ions of light elements (H, H+, He, Li, the kinetic energy of the particles 2-40 eV) with C6H6, C6F12, C60, and C60F48 molecules was studied by ab initio MD simulations and quantum-chemical calculations. It was shown that starting from 6 A from the carbon skeleton for the "C6H6 + proton" and "C60 + proton" systems, the electronic charge transfer from the aromatic molecule to H+ occurs with a probability close to 1. The process transforms the H+ to a hydrogen atom and the neutral C6H6 and C60 molecules to cation radicals. The mechanism of interaction of low-energy protons with C6F12 and C60F48 molecules has a substantially different character and can be considered qualitatively as the interaction between a neutral molecule and a point charge. The Coulomb perturbation of the system arising from the interaction of the uncompensated proton charge with the Mulliken charges of fluorine atoms results in an inversion of the energies of the electronic states localized on the proton and on the C6F12 and C60F48 molecules and makes the electronic charge transfer energetically unfavorable. On the different levels of theory, the barriers of the proton penetration for the C6F12 and C60F48 molecules are from two to four times lower than those for the corresponding parent systems (C6H6 and C60). The penetration barriers of the He atom and Li+ ion depend mainly on the effective radii of the bombarding particles. The theoretical penetration and escaped barriers for the "Li+ + C60" process qualitatively explain the experimental conditions of synthesis of the Li@C60 complex.     

Metal‐Functionalized Silicene for Efficient Hydrogen Storage

First‐principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to investigate the electronic structure along with the stability, bonding mechanism, band gap, and charge transfer of metal‐functionalized silicene to envisage its hydrogen‐storage capacity. Various metal atoms including Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, and Ca are doped into the most stable configuration of silicene. The corresponding binding energies and charge‐transfer mechanisms are discussed from the perspective of hydrogen‐storage compatibility. The Li and Na metal dopants are found to be ideally suitable, not only for strong metal‐to‐substrate binding and uniform distribution over the substrate, but also for the high‐capacity storage of hydrogen. The stabilities of both Li‐ and Na‐functionalized silicene are also confirmed through molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that both of the alkali metals, Li⁺ and Na⁺, can adsorb five hydrogen molecules, attaining reasonably high storage capacities of 7.75 and 6.9 wt %, respectively, with average adsorption energies within the range suitable for practical hydrogen‐storage applications.     

Tuning Hydrogen Storage in Lithium‐Functionalized BC2N Sheets by Doping with Boron and Carbon

First‐principles calculations are used to explore the strong binding of lithium to boron‐ and carbon‐doped BC₂N monolayers (BC₂NB_C and BC₂NC_N, respectively) without the formation of lithium clusters. In comparison to BC₂N and BC₂NC_B, lithium‐decorated BC₂NB_C and BC₂NC_N systems possess stronger s–p and p–p hybridization and, hence, the binding energy is higher. Lithium becomes partially positively charged by donating electron density to the more electronegative atoms of the sheet. Attractive van der Waals interactions are responsible for binding hydrogen molecules around the lithium atoms. Each lithium atom can adsorb three hydrogen molecules on both sides of the sheet, with an average hydrogen binding energy of approximately 0.2 eV, which is in the range required for practical applications. The BC₂NB_C–Li and BC₂NC_N–Li complexes can serve as high‐capacity hydrogen‐storage media with gravimetric hydrogen capacities of 9.88 and 9.94 wt %, respectively.     

Sulfur, tin and gold derivatives of 1-(2'-pyridyl)-ortho-carborane, 1-R-2-X-1,2-C2B10H10 (R = 2'-pyridyl, X = SH, SnMe3 or AuPPh3)

Reaction of the lithium salt of 1-(2'-pyridyl)-ortho-carborane, Li[1-R-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10)](R = 2'-NC(5)H(4)), with sulfur, followed by hydrolysis, gave the mercapto-o-carborane, 1-R-2-SH-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10) which forms chiral crystals containing helical chains of molecules linked by intermolecular S-H...N hydrogen bonds. The cage C(1)-C(2) and exo C(2)-S bond lengths (1.730(3) and 1.775(2)[Angstrom], respectively) are indicative of exo S=C pi bonding. The tin derivative 1-R-2-SnMe(3)-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10), prepared from Li[1-R-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10)] and Me(3)SnCl, crystallises with no significant intermolecular interactions. The pyridyl group lies in the C(1)-C(2)-Sn plane, oriented to minimise the NSn distance (2.861(3)[Angstrom]). The tin environment is distorted trigonal bipyramidal with axial N and Me. The gold derivative 1-R-2-AuPPh(3)-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10), prepared from Li[1-R-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10)] and AuCl(PPh(3)), reveals no NAu interaction in its crystal structure.     

Preparation of 6-O-(4-alkoxytrityl)celluloses and their properties

Cellulose was reacted with a series of 4-alkoxytrityl chlorides (C(n)TCl, n: number of carbon atoms in a saturated alkyl chain) under homogeneous reaction conditions in LiCl-N,N-dimethyl acetoamide to give a series of 6-O-(4-alkoxytrityl)celluloses (C(n)TC) with a high degree of substitution (DS), from 0.94 to 0.99, and with high regioselectivity at the 6-O position. Solubility of the C(n)TC in nonpolar solvents depended on the alkyl chain length: as the alkyl chain lengthens, cellulose derivatives become more hydrophobic and are readily soluble in nonpolar solvents, but not in polar solvents. Acetates of the C(4)-C(18)TC (C(4)-C(18)TCAc) showed anisotropic structures over melting temperatures (T(m)) examined under a polarized optical microscope (POM). Over isotropization temperatures (T(i)), flow birefringence were detected for C(12)-C(18)TCAc. The T(m) and T(i) decreased linearly with an increasing number of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies of C(n)TC indicated that the fully extended side chains were perpendicular to the polymer backbone and interdigitated. These C(n)TC with the improved solubility may be used as starting materials for further derivatization focused on the secondary hydroxyl groups at the C-2 and C-3 positions.     

Computational investigation of adsorption of molecular hydrogen on lithium-doped corannulene

Density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the prospect of lithium-doped corannulene as adsorbent material for H(2) gas. Potential energy surface scans at the level of B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) show an enhanced interaction of molecular hydrogen with lithium-atom-doped corannulene complexes with respect to that found in undoped corannulene. MP2(FC)/6-31G(d,p) optimizations of 4H(2)-(Li(2)-C(20)H(10)) yield H(2) binding energies of -1.48 kcal/mol for the H(2)-Li interaction and -0.92 kcal/mol for the H(2)-C interaction, whereas values of -0.94 and -0.83 kcal/mol were reported (J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 7688-7694) for physisorption of H(2) on the concave and the convex side of corannulene using MP2(full)/6-31G(d), respectively. Classical molecular dynamics simulations predict hydrogen uptakes in Li-doped corannulene assemblies that are significantly enhanced with respect to that found in undoped molecules, and the hydrogen uptake ability is dependent on the concentration of lithium dopant. For the Li(6)-C(20)H(10) complex, a hydrogen uptake of 4.58 wt % at 300 K and 230 bar is obtained when the adsorbent molecules are arranged in stack configurations separated by 6.5 A, and with interlayer distances of 10 A, hydrogen uptake reaches 6.5 wt % at 300 K and 215 bar.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of 13-vertex carboranes and 14-vertex metallacarboranes

Syntheses, properties, and synthetic applications of 13-vertex closo- and nido-carboranes are reported. Reactions of the nido-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Na2 with dihaloborane reagents afforded 13-vertex closo-carboranes 1,2-(CH2)3-3-R-1,2-C2B11H10 (R = H (2), Ph (3), Z-EtCH=C(Et) (4), E-(t)BuCH=CH (5)). Treatment of the arachno-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 gave both the 13-vertex carborane 2 and a 14-vertex closo-carborane (CH2)3C2B12H12 (8). On the other hand, the reaction of [C6H4(CH2)2C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 generated only a 13-vertex closo-carborane 1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11 (9). Electrophilic substitution reactions of 2 with excess MeI, Br2, or I2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AlCl3 produced the hexa-substituted 13-vertex carboranes 8,9,10,11,12,13-X6-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H5 (X = Me (10), Br (11), I (12)). The halogenated products 11 and 12 displayed unexpected instability toward moisture. The 13-vertex closo-carboranes were readily reduced by groups 1 and 2 metals. Accordingly, several 13-vertex nido-carborane dianionic salts [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Li2(DME)2(THF)2] (13), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (13a), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-3-Ph-1,2-C2B11H10][Na2(THF)4]]n (14), [[nido-1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (15), and [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][M(THF)5] (M = Mg (16), Ca (17)) were prepared in good yields. These carbon-atom-adjacent nido-carboranes were not further reduced to the corresponding arachno species by lithium metal. On the other hand, like other nido-carborane dianions, they were useful synthons for the production of super-carboranes and supra-icosahedral metallacarboranes. Interactions of 13a with HBBr2.SMe2, (dppe)NiCl2, and (dppen)NiCl2 gave the 14-vertex carborane 8 and nickelacarboranes [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppe) (18) and [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppen) (19), respectively. All complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Some were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Synthesis, structures and stabilities of thioanisole-functionalised phosphido-borane complexes of the alkali metals

Treatment of the secondary phosphine {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) with BH(3)·SMe(2) gives the corresponding phosphine-borane {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(BH(3))(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) (9) as a colourless solid. Deprotonation of 9 with n-BuLi, PhCH(2)Na or PhCH(2)K proceeds cleanly to give the corresponding alkali metal complexes [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}P(BH(3))(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe)]ML](n) [ML = Li(THF), n = 2 (10); ML = Na(tmeda), n = ∞ (11); ML = K(pmdeta), n = 2 (12)] as yellow/orange crystalline solids. X-ray crystallography reveals that the phosphido-borane ligands bind the metal centres through their sulfur and phosphorus atoms and through the hydrogen atoms of the BH(3) group in each case, leading to dimeric or polymeric structures. Compounds 10-12 are stable towards both heat and ambient light; however, on heating in toluene solution in the presence of 10, traces of free phosphine-borane 9 are slowly converted to the free phosphine {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) (5) with concomitant formation of the corresponding phosphido-bis(borane) complex [{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}P(BH(3))(2)(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe)]Li (14).     

5-磺基水杨酸二钠的晶体结构

应用X射线衍射方法测定了三水合磺基水杨酸二钠的晶体结构。晶体属正交晶系,晶胞参数为:a=23.010,b=9.314,c=5.461,Z=4,空间群Pca2_1。由重原子法和直接法解出结构,并经全矩阵最小二乘法修正,最后的R=0.067。从晶体结构的测定得出其分子式应为(Na+(H_2O)_3]·C_6H_3(COO-)(OH)-(SO_3Na)。水杨酸分子基本上呈平面型,分子中的两个Na~+离子都成扭歪的八面体配位。其中的Na~+(2)离子又与三个水分子形成链状[Na~+(H_2O)_3],并由于链间的氢键的相互交联而成为层状结构。     

Ab initio study on the hydrogen desorption from MH-NH3 (M = Li, Na, K) hydrogen storage systems

The hydrogen storage system LiH + NH(3) ? LiNH(2) + H(2) is one of the most promising hydrogen storage systems, where the reaction yield can be increased by replacing Li in LiH with other alkali metals (Na or K) in order of Li < Na < K. In this paper, we have studied the alkali metal M (M = Li, Na, K) dependence of the reactivity of MH with NH(3) by calculating the potential barrier of the H(2) desorption process from the reaction of an M(2)H(2) cluster with an NH(3) molecule based on the ab initio structure optimization method. We have shown that the height of the potential barrier becomes lower in order of Li, Na, and K, where the difference of the potential barrier in Li and Na is relatively smaller than that in Na and K, and this tendency is consistent with the recent experimental results. We have also shown that the H-H distance of the H(2) dimer at the transition state takes larger distance and the change of the potential energy around the transition state becomes softer in order of Li, Na, and K. There are almost no M dependence in the charge of the H atom in NH(3) before the reaction, while that of the H atom in M(2)H(2) takes larger negative value in order of Li, Na, and K. We have also performed molecular dynamics simulations on the M(2)H(2)-NH(3) system and succeeded to reproduce the H(2) desorption from the reaction of Na(2)H(2) with NH(3).     

Hydrogen storage in low silica type X zeolites

Low silica type X zeolites (LSX, Si/Al = 1) fully exchanged by alkali-metal cations (Li(+), Na(+), and K(+)) were studied for their hydrogen storage capacities. Hydrogen adsorption isotherms were measured separately at 77 K and <1 atm, and at 298 K and <10 MPa. It was found that the hydrogen adsorption capacity of LSX zeolite depended strongly on the cationic radius and the density of the cations that are located on the exposed sites. The interaction energies between H(2) and the cations follow the order Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+), as predicted based on the ionic radii. Oxygen anions on zeolite framework were minor adsorption sites. Li-LSX had an H(2) capacity of 1.5 wt % at 77 K and 1 atm, and a capacity of 0.6 wt % at 298 K and 10 MPa, among the highest of known sorbents. The hydrogen capacity in LSX zeolite by bridged hydrogen spillover was also investigated. A simple and effective technique was employed to build carbon bridges between the H(2) dissociation catalyst and the zeolite to facilitate spillover of hydrogen atoms. Thus, the hydrogen storage capacity of Li-LSX zeolite was enhanced to 1.6 wt % (by a factor of 2.6) at 298 K and 10 MPa. This is by far the highest hydrogen storage capacity obtained on a zeolite material at room temperature. Furthermore, the adsorption rates were fast, and the storages were shown to be fully reversible and rechargeable. Further optimization of the bridge building technique would lead to an additional enhancement of hydrogen storage.     

Interactions of hydrogen with Pd and Pd/Ni alloy chain-functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes from density functional theory

Density functional theory is employed to study Pd and Pd/Ni alloy monatomic chain-functionalized metallic single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT(6,6)) and semiconducting SWNT(10,0), and their interactions with hydrogen molecules. The stable geometries and binding energies have been determined for both isolated chains and chains on SWNT surfaces. We found that continuous Pd and Pd/Ni chains form on SWNTs with geometries close to stable geometries in the isolated chains. Ni alloying improves stability of the chains owing to a higher binding energy to both Pd and C atoms. The physical properties of SWNTs are significantly modified by chain functionalization. SWNT(10,0) is transformed to metal by either Pd or alloy chains, or to a smaller band gap semiconductor, depending on the Pd binding site. From calculations for H(2) interactions with the optimized chain-SWNT systems, the adsorption energy per H atom is found to be about 2.6 times larger for Pd/Ni chain-functionalized SWNTs than for pure Pd chain-functionalized SWNTs. Band structure calculations show that the SWNT(10,0) reverts back to semiconductor and SWNT(6,6) has reduced density of states at the Fermi level upon H(2) adsorption. This result is consistent with the experimentally observed increase of electrical resistance when Pd-coated SWNTs are used as H(2) sensing materials. Finally, our results suggest that Pd/Ni-SWNT materials are potentially good H(2)-sensing materials.     

Enhancement of hydrogen physisorption on graphene and carbon nanotubes by Li doping

Density-functional calculations of the adsorption of molecular hydrogen on a planar graphene layer and on the external surface of a (4,4) carbon nanotube, undoped and doped with lithium, have been carried out. Hydrogen molecules are physisorbed on pure graphene and on the nanotube with binding energies about 80-90 meV/molecule. However, the binding energies increase to 160-180 meV/molecule for many adsorption configurations of the molecule near a Li atom in the doped systems. A charge-density analysis shows that the origin of the increase in binding energy is the electronic charge transfer from the Li atom to graphene and the nanotube. The results support and explain qualitatively the enhancement of the hydrogen storage capacity observed in some experiments of hydrogen adsorption on carbon nanotubes doped with alkali atoms.     

Alkali metal complexes of sterically demanding amino-functionalized secondary phosphanide ligands

The reaction between {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PCl(2) (4) and one equivalent of either [C(6)H(4)-2-NMe(2)]Li or [2-C(5)H(4)N]ZnCl, followed by in situ reduction with LiAlH(4) gives the secondary phosphanes {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(C(6)H(4)-2-NMe(2))PH (5) and {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(2-C(5)H(4)N)PH (6) in good yields as colourless oils. Metalation of 5 with Bu(n)Li in THF gives the lithium phosphanide [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(C(6)H(4)-2-NMe(2))P]Li(THF)(2)] (7), which undergoes metathesis with either NaOBu(t) or KOBu(t) to give the heavier alkali metal derivatives [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(C(6)H(4)-2-NMe(2))P]Na(tmeda)] (8) and [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(C(6)H(4)-2-NMe(2))P]K(pmdeta)] (9) after recrystallization in the presence of the corresponding amine co-ligand [tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, pmdeta = N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine]. The pyridyl-functionalized phosphane 6 undergoes deprotonation on treatment with Bu(n)Li to give a red oil corresponding to the lithium compound [{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(2-C(5)H(4)N)P]Li (10) which could not be crystallized. Treatment of this oil with NaOBu(t) gives the sodium derivative [{[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(2-C(5)H(4)N)P]Na}(2) x (Et(2)O)](2) (11), whilst treatment of with KOBu(t), followed by recrystallization in the presence of pmdeta gives the complex [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}(2-C(5)H(4)N)P]K(pmdeta)](2) (12). Compounds 5-12 have been characterised by (1)H, (13)C{(1)H} and (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses; compounds 7-9, and 12 have additionally been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 7-9 crystallize as discrete monomers, whereas 11 crystallizes as an unusual dimer of dimers and 12 crystallizes as a dimer with bridging pyridyl-phosphanide ligands.