Coordination chemistry of a new P,Te-centred ligand: synthesis, NMR spectra and X-ray structures of M(TePPri2NPPri2)2 (M = Zn, Cd, Hg)

The lithiation of the monotelluride TePPri2NP(H)Pri2 (2) with BunLi at -78 degrees C results in the formation of the reagent LiTePPri2NPPri2] (5), which was characterized by 31P NMR spectroscopy but not isolated due to disproportionation upon solvent removal. Salt metathesis reactions of 5, generated in situ, with group 12 metal chlorides produce the complexes M(TePPri2NPPri2)2 (6, M = Zn; 7, M = Cd; 8, M = Hg), which were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and thermal analyses. The X-ray structures reveal distorted tetrahedral structures with two P,Te-chelating anionic ligands TePPri2NPPri2](-). The 31P NMR spectra exhibit second order behaviour that arises from an AA'XX' spin system; the spectra were simulated to determine the 31P, 31P spin-spin coupling constants.