The structure of 2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyllithium: the significance of P-Li bonding

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(91)80257-K

The solid state structure of 2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyllithiun*Et2O has been determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study.The crystal consists of dimeric aggregates in which the Li atoms are solvated by an additional diethyl ether molecule.The compound retains the dimeric structure in an apolar solvent (toluene) but in THF it exists in monomeric form.Ab initio calculations indicate a small but significant influence of P-Li interaction on the stability and structure of P-containing organolithium compounds.