Reactivity of Electrophilic Terminal Phosphinidene Complexes: P−P Bond Forming Reactions with Phosphines and Diphosphines

Reaction of the electrophilic phosphinidene complex [Cp*Mo(CO)3{PNiPr2}][AlCl4] with triethylphosphine results in reversible coordination of the phosphine to the phosphinidene phosphorus atom followed by carbonyl displacement at the metal. Phosphine-coordinated phosphinidene complexes with P−P bonds can be isolated by using diphosphines which coordinate first to the phosphinidene and then chelate to the phosphinidene and metal atoms.