title: Symmetrical P4 cleavage at cobalt: characterization of intermediates on the way from P4 to coordinated P2 units.
abstract: Degradation of white phosphorus (P(4)) in the coordination sphere of transition metals is commonly divided into two major pathways depending on the P(x) ligands obtained. Consecutive metal-assisted P-P bond cleavage of four bonds of the P(4) tetrahedron leads to complexes featuring two P(2) ligands (symmetric cleavage) or one P(3) and one P(1) ligand (asymmetric cleavage). A systematic investigation of the degradation of white phosphorus P(4) to coordinated μ,η(2:2)-bridging diphosphorus ligands in the coordination sphere of cobalt is presented herein as well as isolation of each of the decisive intermediates on the reaction pathway. The olefin complex [Cp*Co((i)Pr(2)Im)(η(2)-C(2)H(4))], 1 (Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5), (i)Pr(2)Im = 1,3-di-isopropylimidazolin-2-ylidene), reacts with P(4) to give [Cp*Co((i)Pr(2)Im)(η(2)-P(4))], 2, the insertion product of [Cp*Co((i)Pr(2)Im)] into one of the P-P bonds. Addition of a further equivalent of the Co(I) complex [Cp*Co((i)Pr(2)Im)(η(2)-C(2)H(4))], 1, induces cleavage of a second P-P bond to yield the dinuclear complex [{Cp*Co((i)Pr(2)Im)}(2)(μ,η(2:2)-P(4))], 3, in which a kinked cyclo-P(4)(4-) ligand bridges two cobalt atoms. Consecutive dissociation of the N-heterocyclic carbene with concomitant rearrangement of the cyclo-P(4) ligand and P-P dissociation leads to complexes [Cp*Co(μ,η(4:2)-P(4))Co((i)Pr(2)Im)Cp*], 4, featuring a P(4) chain, and [{Cp*Co(μ,η(2:2)-P(2))}(2)], 5, in which two isolated P(2)(2-) ligands bridge two [Cp*Co] fragments. Each of these reactions is quantitative if performed on an NMR scale, and each compound can be isolated in high yields and large quantities.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dürr
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ertler
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Radius