Reactivity of [CpRh(η-C6H3NH2-2,6-i-Pr2)](OTf)2 toward phosphines and alkynes

The cationic aniline complex [Cp^∗Rh(η⁶-2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃NH₂)](OTf)₂ (1) was prepared from either [Cp^∗Rh(η²-NO₃)(η¹-OTf)] or [Cp^∗Rh(OH₂)₃](OTf)₂ and 2,6-diisopropylaniline. Complex 1 underwent substitution with phosphines or phosphites, indicating the labile character of the η⁶-aniline ligand. Complex 1 mediated cycloaddition reactions of several alkynes in refluxing ethanol: the [2 + 2] dimerization for PhCCPh and the [2 + 2 + 1] trimerization for PhCCH and CH₃C₆H₄CCH. The unexpected cyclobutadiene complex [Cp^∗Rh(η⁴-C₄(C(O)CH₃)₂H(SiMe₃))] was obtained from complex 1 and Me₃SiCCCCSiMe₃ and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Iodo-alkynyl- and iodo-butadiynyl-ruthenium complexes

Addition of [I(py)₂]BF₄ to Ru(CCH)(dppe)Cp∗ gave the iodovinylidene [Ru(CCHI)(dppe)Cp∗]BF₄1, which could be deprotonated to Ru(CCI)(dppe)Cp∗ 2. The attempted preparation of Ru(CCCCI)(dppe)Cp∗, followed by derivatisation with tcne, gave the dienynyl Ru{CCC[C(CN)₂]CIC(CN)₂}(dppe)Cp∗ 3. The Pd(0)/Cu(I)-catalysed reaction of 3 with Ru{CCCCAu(PPh₃)}(dppe)Cp∗ afforded Ru{CCCC(CN)₂CC(CN)₂Au(PPh₃)}(dppe)Cp∗ 4 by formal replacement of I⁺ by [Au(PPh₃)]⁺. XRD structures of 1-4 are reported.     

Some ruthenium complexes of fluorinated alkynylcyclopentenes

Reactions between 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene and Ru(CCH)(dppe)Cp∗ or Ru(CCCCLi)(dppe)Cp∗ have given Ru(CC-c-C₅F₆Cl-2)(dppe)Cp∗ 4 and Ru(CCCC-c-C₅F₆Cl-2)(dppe)Cp∗ 7, respectively. Ready hydrolysis of 4 to the ketone Ru{CC[c-C₅F₄Cl(O)]}(dppe)Cp∗ 5 occurs, which can be converted to Ru{CC(c-C₅F₄Cl[C(CN)₂])}(dppe)Cp∗ 6 by treatment with CH₂(CN)₂/basic alumina. Spectroscopic, electrochemical and XRD structural studies for 4-7 are reported: for 6, these suggest that the cyanated fluorocarbon ligand is a very powerful electron-withdrawing group.     

Some complexes containing carbon chains end-capped by M(CO)2Tp′ [M = Mo, W; Tp′ = HB(pz)3, HB(dmpz)3] groups

Complexes M(CCCSiMe₃)(CO)₂Tp′ (Tp′ = Tp [HB(pz)₃], M = Mo 2, W 4; Tp′ = Tp^∗ [HB(dmpz)₃], M = Mo 3) are obtained from M(CCCSiMe₃)(O₂CCF₃)(CO)₂(tmeda) (1) and K[Tp′].Reactions of 2 or 4 with AuCl(PPh₃)/K₂CO₃ in MeOH afforded M{CCCAu(PPh₃)}(CO)₂Tp′ (M = Mo 5, W 6) containing C₃ chains linking the Group 6 metal and gold centres.In turn, the gold complexes react with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ to give the C₄-bridged {Tp(OC)₂M}CCCC{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (M = Mo 7, W 8), while Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)₂Au(PPh₃)}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ give {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)₂C{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (9) via a phosphine-gold(I) halide elimination reaction. The C₃ complexes Tp′(OC)₂MCCCRu(dppe)Cp^∗ (Tp′ = Tp, M = Mo 10, W 11; Tp′ = Tp^∗, M = Mo 12) were obtained from 2-4 and RuCl(dppe)Cp^∗ via KF-induced metalla-desilylation reactions. Reactions between Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Ru{(CC)_nAu(PPh₃)}(dppe)Cp^∗ (n = 2, 3) afforded {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)_n{Ru(dppe)Cp^∗} (n = 2 13, 3 14), containing C₅ and C₇ chains, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 12 are reported.     

Heterometallic complexes containing 1,1′-(CC)2Fc′ units linking two different metal centres

Proto-desilylation of 1-(Me₃SiCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ (1) afforded the corresponding ethynyl derivative 2, from which the green Co₂(μ-dppm)_n(CO)_8−2n (n = 0, 1) adducts 3 and 4 were obtained. Replacement of the ethynyl proton in reactions between 2 and AuCl(PPh₃), Hg(OAc)₂ or FeCl(dppe)Cp^∗ gave complexes 1-(RCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ [R = Au(PPh₃) 5, 1/2Hg 6, Fe(dppe)Cp^∗8]; the latter gave bis-vinylidene 9 with MeI, characterised (as was 2) by a single crystal X-ray study. Oxidative coupling of 2 (CuCl/tmeda/acetone, air) gave diyne 10, while coupling of 5 with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ afforded 1-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}-1′-{(OC)₇(μ-dppm)Co₃(μ₃-CCC)}Fc′ (11). Cyclic voltammetric measurements indicated that there was no significant electronic coupling between the end-groups through the ferrocene centre in any of these compounds.     

Dimerisation and reactivity of HCCCCFc at ruthenium centres

In contrast to the simple diynyl complexes formed in reactions between HCCCCFc and MCl(dppe)Cp∗; (M = Fe, Ru), an analogous reaction with RuCl(PPh₃)₂Cp∗; in the presence of KPF₆ and dbu resulted in dimerisation of the diyne at the Ru centre to afford a mixture of [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(L)CHCCCHFc}(PPh₃)Cp∗]PF₆ (L = dbu 1, PPh₃2). Similar reactions with RuCl(PR₃)₂L gave [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHCCCHFc}(PR₃)L]PF₆ (L = Cp, R = Ph 3, m-tol 4; L = η⁵-C₉H₇, R = Ph 5). The reaction between 3 and I₂, followed by crystallization of the paramagnetic product from MeOH, afforded the dicationic [Ru{C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHC(OMe)C(OMe)CHFc}(PPh₃)Cp](I₃)₂6. The molecular structures of 2·2CH₂Cl₂ and 6.S (S = 2CH₂Cl₂, C₆H₆) were determined by single-crystal XRD studies.     

Iron(II) and iron(III) complexes containing ethynyl thiophene fragments

The synthesis of the new complexes Cp*(dppe)FeCC2,5-C₄H₂SR (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; 2a, R = CCH; 2b, R = CCSi(CH₃)₃; 2c, R = CCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃; 3a, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCH; 3c, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃) is described. The ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic data indicate that the π-back donation from the metal to the carbon rich ligand increases with the size of the organic π-electron systems. The new complexes were also analyzed by CV and the chemical oxidation of 2a and 3c was carried out using 1 equiv of [Cp₂Fe][PF₆]. The corresponding complexes 2a[PF₆] and 3c[PF₆] are thermally stable, but 2a[PF₆] was too reactive to be isolated as a pure compound. The spectroscopic data revealed that the coordination of large organic π-electron systems to the iron nucleus produces only a weak increase of the carbon character of the SOMO for these new organoiron(III) derivatives.     

Luminescent rhenium(I)-gold(I) hetero organometallics linked by ethynylphenanthrolines

The first luminescent rhenium(I)-gold(I) hetero organometallics, Re{phenAu(PPh₃)}(CO)₃Cl (3) and Re{(PPh₃)AuphenAu(PPh₃)}(CO)₃Cl (4), have been prepared using the gold(I) complex AuCl(PPh₃) (PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) and the novel rhenium(I) complexes Re(phenH)(CO)₃Cl (5) (phenH = 3-ethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline) or Re(HphenH)(CO)₃Cl (6) (HphenH = 3,8-bis(ethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline). All the present rhenium(I) complexes 3-6 were revealed to possess a facial configuration (fac-isomer) with respect to the three carbonyl ligands. The main frameworks for these new gold(I) organometallics were constructed by the Au-C σ-bonding (with the η¹-type coordination) between the ethynylphenanthrolines and the Au(I) phosphine unit. Re(I)-Au(I) heterometallics 3 and 4 have shown single phosphorescence from the ³MLCT excited state and this observation can be interpreted in terms of the efficient intramolecular energy transfer from the Au(I) unit to the Re(I) unit.     

Further reactions of some bis(vinylidene)diruthenium complexes

Whereas {Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (2) is the only product formed by deprotonation of [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]⁺ with dbu, a mixture of 2 with Ru{CCCHCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (3) and {Cp*Ru(PPh₂CHCCH-)}₂ (4) is obtained with KOBu^t. A similar reaction with [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCMeCMeC)}]⁺ (5) gave Ru{CCCMeCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (6). X-ray structures of 4, 5 and 6 confirm the presence of the 1-ruthena-2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety, which is likely formed by an intramolecular attack of the deprotonated dppm ligand on C(1) of the vinylidene ligand. Protonation of {Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (8-Ru) regenerates its precursor [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]²⁺ (7-Ru). Ready oxidation of the bis(vinylidene) complex affords the cationic carbonyl [Ru(CO)(dppe)Cp*]PF₆ (9) (X-ray structure).     

Self-assembly directed by C-H activation: Synthesis and characterization of [(CpIr)2(R-NC-Ph-CNR)]2(4,4-bipyridine)2·(OTf)4 (R = Ph, Me)

Self-assembly of a novel class of bis-imine-cyclometalated macrocycles [(Cp^∗Ir)₂(Ph-NC-Ph-CN-Ph)]₂(4,4′-bipyridine)₂·(OTf)₄ (3a) and [(Cp^∗Ir)₂(Me-NC-Ph-CN-Me)]₂(4,4′-bipyridine)₂·(OTf)₄ (3b) was directed by double-site C-H activations of aromatic bis-imine substrates. Two synthetic routes were established, using either (i) binuclear cyclometalated complexes (Cp^∗Ir)₂L1Cl₂ (1a) and (Cp^∗Ir)₂L2Cl₂ (1b) or (ii)4,4′-bipyridine(bpy)-bridged complex (Cp^∗IrCl₂)₂(bpy) (2) as starting materials. All the products were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and EA. Isomers were found in macrocyclic complexes, which were thermodynamically stable from reversible transformation in days. Highly robust structure of the cyclometalated macrocycles was indicated by the existence of stable isomer pairs. One isomer of 3b was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It was a rare case for half-sandwich metallosupramolecular macrocycles that weak interactions between macrocycles and OTf ions were fully captured in detail, and were demonstrated to be essential for the maintenance of tunnel structures of macrocycles in crystal packing.     

Trimetallic complexes containing 1,1′-Rc′(CC)2 units [Rc′ = ruthenocene-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C5H4-)2]

Reactions between 1,1′-(Me₃SiCC)₂Rc′ [Rc′ = ruthenocen-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C₅H₄-)₂] and RuCl(PP)Cp′ in the presence of KF gave 1,1′-{Cp(PP)RuCC}₂Rc′ [Cp′ = Cp, PP = PPh₃1, P(m-tol)₃2, dppe 3, dppf 4; Cp′ = Cp^∗, PP = dppe 5]. Compounds 1 and 2 react with tcne to give two diastereomers a/b of the allylic (vinylcarbene) complexes 6 and 7, while methylation of 5 gave the bis-vinylidene [1,1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCCMe}₂Rc′](BPh₄)₂ (8). The X-ray structures of 4, 6b and 8 have been determined. Cyclic voltammograms indicate that there is some electronic communication between the ruthenium end-groups through the Rc′ centre.     

Effect of ketimide ligand for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization catalyzed by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes-MAO catalyst systems: Structural analysis for CpTiCl2(NCPh2)

Ligand effects on the catalytic activity [and norbornene (NBE) incorporation] for both ethylene polymerization and ethylene/NBE copolymerization using half-titanocenes (titanium half-sandwich complexes) containing ketimide ligand of type Cp′TiCl₂[NC(R¹)R²] [Cp′ = Cp (1), C⁵Me⁵ (Cp^∗, 2); R¹,R² = ^tBu,^tBu (a), ^tBu,Ph (b), Ph,Ph (c)]-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems have been investigated. CpTiCl₂[NC(^tBu)Ph] (1b) CpTiCl₂(NCPh₂) (1c), and Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) were prepared and identified; the structure of Cp^∗TiCl₂(NCPh₂) (2c) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization increased in the order: 1a > 1b > 1c, suggesting that an electronic nature of the ketimide ligand affects the activity. However, molecular weight distributions for resultant (co)polymers prepared by 1b,c and by 2c-MAO catalyst systems were bi- or multi-modal, suggesting that the ketimide substituent plays a key role in order for these (co)polymerizations to proceed with single catalytically-active species. CpTiCl₂(NC^tBu₂) (1a) exhibited both remarkable catalytic activity and efficient NBE incorporation for ethylene/NBE copolymerization.     

A comparison between the reaction of P2Ph4 with [{Co2(CO)6}2(μ-η:μ-η-HOCH2CCCCCH2OH)] and the reaction of [Co2(μ-PPh2)2(CO)6] with HOCH2CCCCCH2OH

Reaction of P₂Ph₄ with the diyne-diol complex [{Co₂(CO)₆}₂(μ-η²:μ-η²-HOCH₂CCCCCH₂OH)] in toluene at 65 °C gives [{Co₂(μ-P₂Ph₄)(CO)₄}{Co₂(CO)₆}(μ-η²:μ-η²-HOCH₂CCCCCH₂OH)] (1). Thermolysis of 1 at 95 °C leads to [{Co₂(CO)₅}₂(μ-P₂Ph₄)(μ-η²:μ-η²-HOCH₂CCCCCH₂OH)](2) and (μ₂-PPh₂)(μ₂-CO)(CO)₇] (3). The structures of 1-3 have been established by X-ray crystallography. In 1, a pseudoequatorial P₂Ph₄ ligand bridges the cobalt-cobalt bond of a Co₂(CC)(CO)₄ unit. By contrast, in isomeric 2, a pseudoaxial P₂Ph₄ ligand spans two Co₂(CC)(CO)₅ units, a new coordination mode for [{Co₂(CO)₅L}₂(μ-η²:μ-η²-diyne)] complexes. Complex 3 arises from dehydration-cyclocarbonylation of the diyne-diol in 1 to give a 2(5H)-furanone, a process that has not been previously reported. Reaction of HOCH₂CCCCCH₂OH with [Co₂(μ-PPh₂)₂(CO)₆] at 80 °C in toluene gave [Co₃(μ-PPh₂)₃(CO)₆], [Co₂(CO)₆(μ-η²-HOCH₂CCCCCH₂OH)] and [Co₂{μ-η⁴-PPh₂C(CCCH₂OH)C(CH₂OH)CO}(μ-PPh₂)(CO)₄] (4). The regiochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Some ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon ligands: syntheses, structures and extent of electronic communication in binuclear systems

The preparation of several ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon anions is reported. Deprotonation (KOBu^t) of [Ru(NCCH₂CN)(PPh₃)₂Cp]PF₆ (1) gives Ru{NCCH(CN)}(PPh₃)₂Cp (2), which adds a second [Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp]⁺ unit to give [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂(μ-NCCHCN)]⁺ (3). Attempted deprotonation of the latter to give the μ-NCCCN complex was unsuccessful. Similar chemistry with tricyanomethanide anion gives Ru{NCC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (4) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)CN}]PF₆ (5), and with pentacyanopropenide, Ru{NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (6) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)CN}]PF₆ (7). The Ru(dppe)Cp* analogues of 6 and 7 (8 and 9) were also prepared. Thermolysis of 6 (refluxing toluene, 12 h) results in loss of PPh₃ and formation of the binuclear cyclic complex {Ru(PPh₃)Cp[μ-NC{C(CN)C(CN)₂}CN]}₂ (10). The solid-state structures of 2-4 and 8-10 have been determined and the nature of the isomers shown to be present in solutions of the binuclear cations 7 and 9 by NMR studies has been probed using Hartree-Fock and density functional theory.     

Alkyne-functionalized metallocene complexes: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic ethylene polymerization

Reactions of phenylethynyl lithium with substituted cyclopentenones gave the corresponding pendant phenylethynyl substituted cyclopentadienes. Subsequent deprotonation and transmetallation with TiCl₄·2THF, ZrCl₄, and Cp^∗ZrCl₃ yielded the alkyne-functionalized metallocene complexes [C₅Me₄(CCPh)]₂MCl₂ [M = Ti (1), Zr (2)], Cp^∗[C₅Me₄(CCPh)]ZrCl₂ (3), and Cp^∗[C₅H₂R′₂(CCPh)]ZrCl₂ [R′ = Me (4), Ph (5)]. These complexes were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS spectra, and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of 2 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Ethylene polymerization was studied with these complexes in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO).     

Formation of niobium and tantalum ylide complexes

The reactions of tri(bis(ethyl)amino)phosphorus ylide (Et₂N)₃PCH₂ with cyclopentadienyl (Cp) metal (V) tetrachloride CpMCl₄ (M = Nb 1; Ta 3) and pentamethylcycopentadienyl (Cp^∗) metal (V) tetrachloride Cp^∗MCl₄ (M = Nb 2; Ta 4) were investigated. The hexa-coordinate ylide adducts complexes 5 (CpNbCl₄(H₂CP(NEt₂)₃)), 6 (Cp^∗NbCl₄(H₂CP(NEt₂)₃)) and 8 (Cp^∗TaCl₄(H₂CP(NEt₂)₃)) with pseudo-octahedral geometry were structurally analyzed with X-ray diffraction. Compound 4 (Cp^∗TaCl₄) reacted with three molar equivalent of phosphorus ylide to form one ionic complex 9 ([H₃C-P(NEt₂)₃][Cp^∗TaCl₅]) which was also structurally analyzed with X-ray diffraction. The possible formation mechanism of compound 9 has been discussed.     

Synthesis, structures and some reactions of Ru(CCCCFc)(PP)Cp (PP = dppm, dppe) and related compounds

The compounds Ru(CCCCFc)(PP)Cp [PP = dppe (1), dppm (2)], have been obtained from reactions between RuCl(PP)Cp and FcCCCCSiMe₃ in the presence of KF (1) or HCCCCFc and K[PF₆] (2), both with added dbu. The dppe complex reacts with Co₂(CO)₆(L₂) [L₂ = (CO)₂, dppm] to give 3, 4 in which the Co₂(CO)₄(L₂) group is attached to the outer CC triple bond. The PPh₃ analogue of 3 (5) has also been characterised. In contrast, tetracyanoethene reacts to give two isomeric complexes 6 and 7, in which the cyano-olefin has added to either CC triple bond. The reaction of RuCl(dppe)Cp with HCCCCFc, carried out in a thf/NEt₃ mixture in the presence of Na[BPh₄], gave [Ru{CCC(NEt₃)CHFc}(dppe)Cp]BPh₄ (8), probably formed by addition of the amine to an (unobserved) intermediate butatrienylidene [Ru(CCCCHFc)(dppe)Cp]⁺. The reaction of I₂ with 8 proceeds via an unusual migration of the alkynyl group to the Cp ring to give [RuI(dppe){η-C₅H₄CCC(NEt₃)CHFc}]I₃ (9). Single-crystal X-ray structural determinations of 1, 2 and 4-9 are reported.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of two 3d-4f heterometallic coordination polymers

Two new 4f-3d heterometallic coordination polymers, [Gd₂^IIICo^II(pydc)₃(ox)(H₂O)₄)·2H₂O] (1) and [Dy^IIICu^II(pydc)₂(ox)_1/2(H₂O)₂·H₂O] (2) (pydc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate anion, ox = oxalate dianion) were successfully synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Structure and magnetism of the two coordination polymers were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and Quantum Design (MPMS) SQUID magnetometer. In both compounds, metal centers were connected by double ligand bridges. In 1 the gadolinium ions were linked in sheets by OCO ligand bridges and these sheets were connected by separated cobalt coordination spheres to generate the overall 2-D structure. In 2 the dysprosium centers were constructed into one dimensional chain by OCO bridges from pydc ligand bridges and these chains were linked by oxalate bridges to form sheets and different sheets were connected by copper coordination planes. The copper centers in 2 were linked in chain by elongated OCO brides and the chains were connected by hydrogen bond to generate 3-D structure. Magnetic properties of the two complexes were investigated by variable temperature magnetic susceptibility. The magnetic data suggest that overall antiferromagnetic interactions are present in the two compounds.     

Reactions of cyano(alkynyl)ethenes with some alkynyl- and diynyl-ruthenium complexes

Reactions of Ru(CCPh)(PPh₃)₂Cp with (NC)₂CCR¹R² (R¹ = H, R² = CCSiPrⁱ₃8; R¹ = R² = CCPh 9) have given η³-butadienyl complexes Ru{η³-C[C(CN)₂]CPhCR¹R²}(PPh₃)Cp (11, 12), respectively, by formal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition of the alkynyl and alkene, followed by ring-opening of the resulting cyclobutenyl (not detected) and displacement of a PPh₃ ligand. Deprotection (tbaf) of 11 and subsequent reactions with RuCl(dppe)Cp and AuCl(PPh₃) afforded binuclear derivatives Ru{η³-C[C(CN)₂]CPhCHCC[ML_n]}(PPh₃)Cp [ML_n = Ru(dppe)Cp 19, Au(PPh₃) 20]. Reactions between 8 and Ru(CCCCR)(PP)Cp [PP = (PPh₃)₂, R = Ph, SiMe₃, SiPrⁱ₃; PP = dppe, R = Ph] gave η¹-dienynyl complexes Ru{CCC[C(CN)₂]CRCH[CC(SiPrⁱ₃)]}(PP)Cp (15-18), respectively, in reactions not involving phosphine ligand displacement. The phthalodinitrile C₆H(CCSiMe₃)(CN)₂(NH₂)(SiMe₃) 10 was obtained serendipitously from (Me₃SiCC)₂CO and CH₂(CN)₂, as shown by an XRD structure determination. The XRD structures of precursor 7 and adducts 11, 12 and 17 are also reported.