A homologous series of alkaline earth phosphanides: syntheses,crystal structures,and unusual dynamic behavior of (THF)(n)M[P(CH(SiMe(3))(2))(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (M = Mg,Ca, Sr,Ba)

The secondary phosphine R(Me(2)NCH(2)-2-C(6)H(4))PH reacts with Bu(2)Mg to give the homoleptic complex MgPR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (1) R = CH(SiMe(3))(2)]. The analogous heavier alkaline earth metal complexes (THF)(n)AePR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) Ae = Ca (2), n = 0; Ae = Sr (3), Ba (4), n = 1] have been synthesized by metathesis reactions between KPR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))] and 0.5 equiv of the respective alkaline earth metal diiodide. Compounds 1-4 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and multielement NMR spectroscopy. In the solid state, compounds 1-4 are monomeric, complexes 1 and 2 adopting a distorted tetrahedral geometry and complexes 3 and 4 adopting a distorted square pyramidal geometry (1: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 11.413(3) A, b = 12.072(3) A, c = 32.620(11) A, Z = 4. 2: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.5550(4) A, b = 17.4560(7) A, c = 24.5782(10) A, beta = 91.673(2) degrees, Z = 4. 3: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 15.0498(9) A, b = 13.0180(8) A, c = 24.3664(14) A, beta = 104.593(2) degrees, Z = 4. 4: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 15.2930(10) A, b = 13.0326(9) A, c = 24.6491(17) A, beta = 105.542(2) degrees, Z = 4). In toluene solution, compounds 2-4 are subject to dynamic processes which are attributed to a monomer-dimer equilibrium for which bridge-terminal exchange of the phosphanide ligands in the dimer may be frozen out at low temperatures.