The preparation and reactions of group IIB metal chloride stabilized complexes of (chlorofluoromethylene)tris(dimethylamino)phosphorane

A facile dechlorination reaction occurs between ((CH₃)₂N)₃⁺PCFCl₂]Cl^? and Group IIB metals to form addition complexes of the type ((CH₃)₂N)₃P⁺ CFCl-(MCl)]Cl^? where M = Zn, Cd, or Hg. These complexes exhibit surprising stability in ethereal solvents, and serve as effective 1-chloro-1-fluorovinyl transfer agents via the Wittig reaction by dissociation into (CH₃)₂N]₃PCFCl and the metal chloride. ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR, as well as derivative formation, substantiate that these complexes are indeed quaternary phosphonium compounds which contain covalent carbonmetal bonds.