Nitrogen ligands on phosphorus(III) Lewis acceptors: A versatile new synthetic approach to unusual N-P structural arrangements

A series of Lewis acid-base adducts of phosphines with amines or pyridines have been prepared and structurally characterized, demonstrating the importance of Lewis acceptor behavior in the chemistry of electron-rich (lone-pair-bearing) centers. The neutral and cationic complexes all contain examples of N-P coordinate bonds that are void of N-P pi-bonding and therefore represent definitive N-P single bonds. The structures are examples of N-P topologies that are rare or have not previously been observed, highlighting the synthetic viability of Lewis acid-base coupling in the still developing field of nitrogen-phosphorus chemistry.