N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidyne transition metal complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.201408354

The N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adduct IPr=PSiMe₃ is introduced as a synthon for the preparation of terminal carbene-phosphinidyne transition metal complexes of the type [(IPr=P)ML_n] (ML_n=(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl) and (η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl). Their spectroscopic and structural characteristics, namely low-field ³¹P NMR chemical shifts and short metal-phosphorus bonds, show their similarity with arylphosphinidene complexes. The formally mononegative IPr=P ligand is also capable of bridging two or three metal atoms as demonstrated by the preparation of bi-and trimetallic RuAu, RhAu, Rh₂, and Rh₂Au complexes.