Synthesis and Structure of Magnesium and Group 13 Metal Bis(thiophosphinoyl)methanediide Complexes

Metalations of bis(diphenylthiophosphinoyl)methane, CH2(PPh2S)2, with equimolar BunLi or Bun2Mg in THF afforded [Li{(SPPh2)2CH}(THF)(Et2O)] (1) and [MgC(PPh2S)2(THF)]2 (2), respectively. Compound 1 with a group 13 metal chloride MCl3 (M = Al, Ga, In) gave the methanediide complex [MCl{C(PPh2S)2}]2 (M = Al (3), Ga (4), In (5)). Compounds 3−5 are believed to be formed by ligand transfer reaction followed by dehydrochlorination. X-ray structures of 1−5 have been determined. It was found that the magnesium complex 2 has a similar structure to the group 13 metal analogues 3−5.