Phosphorus(III) Cations Supported by a PNP Pincer Ligand and Sub‐Stoichiometric Generation of P4 from Thermolysis of a Nickel Insertion Product

Neutral, mono‐, and dicationic phosphorus(III) compounds are accessible with a supporting PNP pincer ligand (PNP=4‐Me‐2‐iPr₂P‐C₆H₃)₂N]). Reaction of (PNP)H with PCl₃ and nBu₃N furnished (PNP)PCl₂ ( 1 ), which displays a highly temperature‐dependent structure in solution. Synthesis and characterization by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography of Cl/Br‐scrambled derivatives, a monocationic derivative (PNP)PCl]HCB₁₁H₁₁] ( 4 ), and the dicationic derivatives (PNP)P]OTf]₂ ( 5 ), (PNP)P]B(C₆F₅)₄]₂ ( 6 ), (PNP)P]B₁₂Cl₁₂] ( 7 ) established that 1 not only undergoes several fluxional processes in solution but also possesses a temperature‐dependent ground state structure. Reaction of 1 with a Ni⁰ source initially leads to a phosphine–phosphinidene complex, followed by thermal generation of P₄.