Metal-Enriched [3]Trochrocenophanes: Bimetallic Metalloarenophanes by Coordination to Chelating Bis(phosphanyls)

The first 1,1′-bis(phosphanyl)trochrocene derivatives (1–3) have been prepared in reasonable isolated yields by salt elimination reactions of monochlorophosphines (ClPPh2, ClPCy2, and ClPMe2) with [Cr(η5-C5H4Li)(η7-C7H6Li)]·tmeda. Subsequent treatment with group 6 hexacarbonyls resulted in the formation of the heterobimetallic [3]trochrocenophane species 4–9, with the novel bisphosphines acting as chelating ligands. The solid-state structures of two bis(phosphanyl) derivatives and four bimetallic species have been studied by X-ray diffraction.