PH3 reacts with the in situ generated N-heterocyclic carbene DippNHC* (DippNHC* = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) to give the phosphanyl-imidazolidine [(Dipp)NHC*-H]-[PH2]. Upon treatment with an ortho-quinone, [(Dipp)NHC*-H]-[PH2] is dehydrogenated to give the parent phosphinidene-carbene adduct (Dipp)NHC*[double bond, length as m-dash]PH. Alternative routes to [(Dipp)NHC*-H]-[PH2] and (Dipp)NHC*[double bond, length as m-dash]PH employ NaPH2 and (TMS)3P7 (TMS = trimethylsilyl), respectively, as phosphorus sources. The adduct (Dipp)NHC*[double bond, length as m-dash]PH and the related adduct (Dipp)NHC[double bond, length as m-dash]PH ((Dipp)NHC = bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) possessing an unsaturated NHC backbone both react with HgCl2 to give the bis(carbene-phosphinidenyl) complexes [((Dipp)NHC*[double bond, length as m-dash]P)2Hg] and [((Dipp)NHC[double bond, length as m-dash]P)2Hg].

Phosphorus-containing multiple-bond systems have received great interest in various applications but often require elaborate syntheses and special precursors. In this paper, we describe simple methods for the synthesis of imidazoyl phosphinidenes and bis(imidazolyl)-P(I) halides from elemental phosphorus or the heptaphosphides Na 3 P 7 and (Me 3 Si) 3 P 7 . The reactions of imidazolium salts with KOtBu and P 4 afford mixtures of imidazoyl phosphinidenes and P n compounds and, for N-methylated imidazolium salts, also bis(imidazolyl)-P(I) hal- [a] Scheme 8. Transient intermediates E/Z-10 (R = mesityl) and 11 [40] observed during the reactions of imidazolium salt and /KOtBu with P 4 .

Phosphinidenes [R-P] are convenient P building blocks for the synthesis of a plethora of organophosphorus compounds. Thus far, transition-metal-complexed phosphinidenes have been used for their singlet ground-state reactivity to promote selective addition and insertion reactions. One disadvantage of this approach is that after transfer of the P moiety to the substrate, a challenging demetallation step is required to provide the free phosphine. We report a simple method that enables the Lewis acid promoted transfer of phenylphosphinidene, [PhP], from NHC=PPh adducts (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) to various substrates to produce directly uncoordinated phosphorus heterocycles that are difficult to obtain otherwise.

A facile, one-pot synthesis of [Na(OC≡As)(dioxane) ] (x=2.3-3.3) in 78 % yield is reported through the reaction of arsine gas with dimethylcarbonate in the presence of NaO Bu and 1,4-dioxane. It has been employed for the synthesis of the first arsaketenyl-functionalized germylene [LGeAsCO] (2, L=CH[CMeN(Dipp)] ; Dipp=2,6- Pr C H ) from the reaction with LGeCl (1). Upon exposure to ambient light, 2 undergoes CO elimination to form the 1,3-digerma-2,4-diarsacyclobutadiene [L Ge As ] (3), which contains a symmetric Ge As ring with ylide-like Ge=As bonds. Remarkably, the CO ligand located at the arsenic center of 2 can be exchanged with PPh or an N-heterocyclic carbene NHC donor ( NHC=1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) to afford the novel germylidenylarsinidene complexes [LGe-AsPPh ] (4) and [LGe-As( NHC)] (5), respectively, demonstrating transition-metal-like ligand substitution at the arsinidene-like As atom. The formation of 2-5 and their electronic structures have been studied by DFT calculations.

The parent phosphinidene-carbene adduct NHC=PH is a versatile synthon in main group chemistry and can act as an electronically flexible ligand for transition metals. Previously, it could only be synthesized with sterically demanding N-aryl substituents. This paper describes simple methods for the synthesis of NHC=PH adducts with varying steric demand from elemental phosphorus or easily accessible phosphorus sources. Furthermore, the reactivity of NHCs towards PH3 was investigated. It was shown how a NHC inserts into the P-H bond of PH3, which opens up a route to NHC=PH adducts from an imidazolium salt and PH3. The adducts were used in the simple syntheses of bis(phosphinidene) mercury(II) and group 6 pentacarbonyl parent phosphinidene complexes. Their electronic and structural properties were investigated to elucidate the influence of the NHC on the phosphinidene and identify possible applications.