Coordination and reactivity of white phosphorus and tetraphosphorus trisulphide in the presence of the fragment CpFe(dppe) [dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]

The reaction of CpFe(dppe)Cl] (1) dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] with one equivalent of P₄ or P₄S₃ in the presence of a chloride scavenger, TlPF₆ or AgOTf (OTf = triflate, OSO₂CF₃), affords the complexes CpFe(dppe)(η¹-P₄)]PF₆ (2) and CpFe(dppe)(η¹-P_basal-P₄S₃)]OTf (3) which contain the tetrahedral P₄ and the mixed P₄S₃ cage molecule η¹-bound to the metal. Both P₄ and P₄S₃ yield furthermore the dimetal compounds {CpFe(dppe)}₂(μ,η^1:1-P₄)](PF₆)₂ (4) and {CpFe(dppe)}₂(μ,η^1:1-P_apical-P_basal-P₄S₃)](OTf)₂ (5), which contain the tetrahedral P₄ or the mixed-cage P₄S₃ molecule tethering two ruthenium fragments via two phosphorus atoms. All the compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses and NMR measurements. The crystal structure of 4 has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The complexes readily react with excess water under mild reaction conditions and the outcoming products have been identified.