C–P or C–H Bond Cleavage of Phosphine Oxides Mediated by an Yttrium Hydride

Reactions of the yttrium anilido hydride [LY­(NH­(DIPP))­(μ-H)]2 (1; L = [MeC­(N­(DIPP))­CHC­(Me)­(NCH2CH2NMe2)]−, DIPP = 2,6-iPr2C6H3)) with three phosphine oxides and two phosphine sulfides are reported. The reaction of 1 with Ph3PO gives C–P bond cleavage and an yttrium anilido phosphinoyl complex, while those with R2MePO (R = Me, Ph) result in C–H bond cleavage and two yttrium anilido alkyl complexes. 1 also reacted with R3PS (R = Me, Ph), which demonstrated P–S bond cleavage via hydride-based reduction and gave an yttrium anilido sulfide.