The reaction of sodium with RPCl2 and PCl3 (12:4:1) in THF gives Na[cyclo‐(P5R4)] [R = iPr (1), Ph (2)], while four equivalents of RPCl2 [R = Ph, 2,4,6‐Me3C6H2 (Mes), tBu] react with ten equivalents of sodium sand or elemental potassium in refluxing THF to yield the compounds [Na2(THF)5(P4Ph4)] (3), [Na2(THF)4(P4Mes4)] (4), and [Na2(THF)4(P4tBu4)] (5), or the potassium salt [K2(THF)6(P4Mes4)] (6). Recrystallizing 6 from 1,4‐dioxane/pentane (1:3) also led to [{K(L)2}2{K(L)}6(P4Mes4)4·0.5THF]∞ (L = 1,4‐dioxane) (7). In the solid state, compounds 3−6 exist as isolated ion‐contact complexes, in which the P4 chain of the (P4R4)2− ligand has a syn arrangement, while a polymeric helical arrangement was observed for 7. A minor product, [{K(pmdeta)(HP3Mes3)}2{K2(P4Mes4)}]·0.25hexane (8), was isolated from the reaction of MesPCl2 and K (1:2.5). Compound 8 contains the first structurally characterized example of a triphosphanide anion, (HP3Mes3)−, besides K2(P4Mes4). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)

[Na{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}] (1) reacts with [CuCl(PCyp(3))(2)] (Cyp=cyclo-C(5)H(9)) and [CuCl(PPh(3))(3)] (1:1) to give the corresponding copper(I) complexes with a tetra-tert-butylcyclopentaphosphanide ligand, [Cu{cyclo- (P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))(2)] (2) and [Cu{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PPh(3))(2)] (3). The CuCl adduct of 2, [Cu(2)(mu-Cl){cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))(2)] (4), was obtained from the reaction of 1 with [CuCl(PCyp(3))(2)] (1:2). Compounds 2 and 3 rearrange, even at -27 degrees C, to give [Cu(4){cyclo- (P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (5), in which ring contraction of the [cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))](-) anion has occurred. The reaction of 1 with [AgCl(PCyp(3))](4) or [AgCl(PPh(3))(2)] (1:1) leads to the formation of [Ag(4){cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (6). Intermediates, which are most probably mononuclear, "[Ag{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PR(3))(2)]" (R=Cyp, Ph) could be detected in the reaction mixtures, but not isolated. Finally, the reaction of 1 with [AuCl(PCyp(3))] (1:1) yielded [Au{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))] (7), whereas an inseparable mixture of [Au(3){cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(3)] (8) and [Au(4){cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (9) was obtained from the analogous reaction with [AuCl(PPh(3))]. Complexes 3-7 were characterised by (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystal structures were determined for 3-9.

[Na(THF)4][cyclo-(P5tBu4)] (1) reacts with Et2AlCl and GeCl4 to give Et2Al[cyclo-(P5tBu4)](THF) (2) and, in low yield, GeCl3[cyclo-(P5tBu4)], respectively, while the reaction of 1 with SnCl2, PbCl2 or BiCl3 results in the formation of the structural isomers [cyclo-(P5tBu4)]2 (3) and [cyclo-(P4tBu3)PtBu]2 (4)(besides other cyclic phosphanes) and elemental metal.

Na[cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))] (1) reacts with [NiCl(2)(PEt(3))(2)] and [PdCl(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] with elimination of tBuCl and formation of the corresponding metal(0) cyclopentaphosphene complexes [Ni{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(3))}(PEt(3))(2)] (2) and [Pd{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(3))}(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (3). In contrast, complexes with the more labile triphenylphosphane ligand, such as [MCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] (M=Ni, Pd), react with 1 with formation of [NiCl{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PPh(3))] (4) and [Pd{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(2)] (5), respectively, in which the cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4)) ligand is intact. In the case of palladium, the cyclopentaphosphene complex [Pd{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(3))}(PPh(3))(2)] (6) in trace amounts is also formed. However, [Ni{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(2)] (7) is easily obtained by reaction of two equivalents of 1 and one equivalent of [NiCl(2)(bipy)] at room temperature. Complex 7 rearranges on heating in n-hexane or toluene to the previously unknown [Ni{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))PtBu}{cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))}] (8), which presumably is formed via the intermediate [Ni{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}{cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}], which, after an unexpected and unprecedented phosphanediide migration, gives 8, but always as an inseparable mixture with 7. In the reaction of 1 with [PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)], ring contraction and formation of [PtCl{cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(PMe(2)Ph)] (9) is observed. Complexes 3-5 and 7-9 were characterised by (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray structures were obtained for 5-9.

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