4,6-bis(supermesitylphosphanylidenemethyl)dibenzofuran. Synthesis, X-ray structure and reactivity towards group 11 metals

New kinetically stabilized mono- and bis-phosphaalkene ligands (2 and 3, respectively) were synthesized via the phospha-Wittig approach. Ligand 3 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The coordinating behaviour of the bidentate ligand was investigated towards group 11 metal centers in order to test its capacity to bind two coordination sites located in a trans-fashion. The Au(3)]BF4], Ag(3)(H2O)]BF4] and Cu(3)(CH3CN)]BF4] complexes 4 , 5 and 6, respectively, were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The peculiar geometries of 4 and 6 were rationalized by means of DFT calculations.