The synthesis of a new trisbenzylsilanephosphine P{(o-CHCH)SiMeH} (1) is shown to proceed with high yields from P(o-tolyl). Compound 1 coordinates to the Rh and Ir dimers [MCl(COD)] (M = Rh, Ir) in a tetradentate or tridentate fashion, depending on the strict exclusion of water. The dimeric compounds [ClM(SiMeCH-o-CH)P(o-CH-CHSiMeH)], 2Rh and 2Ir, feature a tetradentate coordination of the starting ligand with P and two Si atoms as well as a non-classical agostic Si-H group. The presence of adventitious water in the solvents leads to the formation of two new complexes [(μ-Cl)M(SiMeCH-o-CH)P(o-CH-CHSiMeOSiMeCH-o-CH-)P(SiMeCH-o-CH)], 3Rh and 3Ir, which feature a siloxane bridge through Si-H bond breaking in 2. Reaction of [RhCl(COD)] with the bisbenzylsilanephosphine PhP{(o-CHCH)SiMeH} leads to the formation of compound 4Rh which features also a dimeric structure with the SiPSi ligand coordinated through the two silicon atoms, one of which occupies the apical position of a square-pyramidal geometry in the solid state, while the second is disposed equatorially trans to π-donor Cl. Finally, bidentate coordination of a PSi ligand is achieved by reaction of [RhCl(COD)] with PhP{(o-CHCH)SiMeH} which leads to the monometallic species [RhCl(SiMeCH-o-CH-PPh)], 5Rh, incorporating two chelating PSi ligands and maintaining a Cl ligand.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.