N‐Heterocyclic Phosphenium,Arsenium, and Stibenium Ions as Ligands in Transition Metal Complexes: A Comparative Experimental and Computational Study

Reaction of 2‐chloro‐1,3,2‐diazaarsolenes and ‐diazaphospholenes with Tl[Co(CO)₄] gives instable complexes of type [Co(ER₂)(CO)₄] which decarbonylated to yield [Co(ER₂)(CO)₃]. Spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction studies revealed that the tetracarbonyl complexes can be formulated as ion pair for E = P and as covalent metalla‐arsine for E = As, and the tricarbonyl complexes as carbene‐like species with a formal E=Co double bond. A similar reactivity towards Tl[Co(CO)₄] was also inferred for 1,3,2‐diazastibolenes although the products were not isolable and their constitution remained uncertain. Evaluation of structural and computational data suggests that the weak and polarized Co–As bond in [Co(AsR₂)(CO)₄] can be characterized as an “inverse” M→L donor‐acceptor bond. The computational studies disclosed further η²(EN)‐coordination of the EN₂C₂ heterocycle as an alternative to the formation of a carbene‐like structure for [Co(ER₂)(CO)₃]. The η²‐complex is less stable for E = P but close in energy for E = As and more stable than the carbene‐like complex for E = Sb.