Phosphonio‐benzophospholide Zwitterions as Bridging 8e‐Donor Ligands: Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies

Reactions of the phosphonio‐benzophospholide π‐complexes 3a, b[Cr] with [M(CO)₅(olefin)] or of the σ‐complexes 2a, b[M] (M = Cr, Mo, W) with [M(CO)₃(aren)] lead to the first binuclear complexes 4a, b[CrM] featuring phosphonoio‐benzophospholides as μ‐bridging 8e‐donor ligands to two group 6 metal atoms. The constitution of the products was determined by spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction studies. Mixed complexes with both group 6 and 7 metals were not accessible. Mechanistic studies showed that the reactions follow a complicated mechanism whose single steps may involve transfer of either M(CO)_n fragments or single CO ligands between complexes; the latter are associated with a σ/π‐coordination isomerization of the benzophospholide unit. Competition between both reaction channels can lead to the formation of product mixtures whose composition is controlled by the relative thermodynamic stabilities of the products. Computational studies suggest that in the more stable isomer of heterobimetallic complexes 4a, b[MM′] end‐on coordination to the heavier and side‐on coordination to the lighter metal atom is preferred.     

Ylidyl‐substituted Phosphonio‐benzophospholides as Chelating Ligands

Phosphonio‐benzo[c]phospholides with an additional phosphonium ylide substituent in 3‐position were synthesized by deprotonation of appropriately substituted 1, 3‐bis‐phosphonio benzophospholide cations and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical data. The ability of these molecules to act as bidentate P, C‐chelating ligands to transition metal atoms was demonstrated in the reactions with [W(CO)₄(norbornadiene)] and [MCl₂(cyclooctadiene)] (M = Pd, Pt). The Pd^II and Pt^II complexes are distinguished by a strong inclination towards addition of H₂O to the 10π‐electron system of the ligand. The molecular structures of a W⁰ complex with a P, C‐chelating ylidyl‐phosphonio‐benzophospholide ligand and of the product resulting from H₂O‐addition to a corresponding Pt^II complex were determined. The structural parameters of the W⁰ complex provide evidence for the presence of substantial steric strain around the metal atom.     

η2(π)‐Coordination of a Bis‐Phosphonio‐Benzophospholide Cation: A Novel Complexation Mode for Unsaturated Phosphorus Heterocycles

The bis‐phosphonio‐benzo[c]phospholide tetraphenylborate 4 [BPh₄] reacts with CpCo(C₂H₄)₂ to form a chelate complex [Co(η⁵–Cp)(κ²P,η²(P=C) –4 )][BPh₄] ( 6 [BPh₄]) which was characterized by means of spectroscopic techniques and a single crystal X‐ray diffraction study. The observed η²(π)‐coordination of the benzophospholide moiety in the cation 6 is highly unusual for aromatic phosphorus heterocycles. The structural data suggest a pronounced coordination‐induced localization of π‐electrons in the condensed ring system.     

Synthesis and Basic Coordination Properties of Side‐chain Functionalized Bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholides

Salts containing bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholide cations 2 a – d with an additional donor site in one of the phosphonio‐moieties were synthesized either via quaternisation of the Ph₂P moiety in the neutral phosphonio‐benzophospholide 3 , or via ring‐closure of the functionalized bis‐phosphonium ion 6 . The Ph₂P‐substituted cation 2 d formed chelate complexes [M(k²P,P′‐ 2 d )(CO)_n]⁺ with M(CO)_n = Ni(CO)₂, Fe(CO)₃, Cr(CO)₄. In the latter case, competition between formation of the chelate and a complex [Cr(kP‐ 2 d )₂(CO)₄]²⁺ was observed, and interpreted as a consequence of antagonism between the stabilizing chelate effect and destabilizing ligand–ligand repulsions. The formation of stable Pd^II and Pt^II complexes of 2 d suggests that the chelate effect may also overcome the kinetic inhibition which so far prevented isolation of complexes of these metals with bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholides. The newly synthesized ligands and complexes were characterized by spectroscopic data, and an X‐ray crystal structure analysis of 2 a [Br]. The reactivity of chelate complexes towards Ph₃P indicates that the ring phosphorus atom is a weaker donor than the pendant Ph₂P‐group.