We have investigated the chemical reactivity of heptaatomic anionic clusters of the group 15 elements ([E7]3–/[HE7]2–, E = P, As) toward the symmetric and asymmetrically substituted alkynes diphenylacetylene and phenylacetylene. The results reported herein, alongside a previous report on the reactivity of such clusters toward acetylene, describe a versatile route by which to access otherwise elusive 1,2,3-tripnictolide anions of the general formula [E3C2RR′]− (R = R′ = H, E = P (1), As (2); R = R′ = C6H5, E = P (3) As (4); R = H, R′ = C6H5, E = P (5), As (6)). These species can be isolated as [K(18-crown-6)]+ or [K(2,2,2-crypt)]+ salts. All anions were characterized by multielement NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. In addition, single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures of the novel species [K(18-crown-6)(THF)2][3], [K(2,2,2-crypt)][4]·xTHF (x = 0, 0.5), and [K(18-crown-6)THF][6] were also obtained. The chemical reactivity of these group 15 cyclopentadienyl analogues has been explored in a series of ligand displacement reactions with Mo(CO)3(L)3 (L = CO, CH3CN) to yield the complex anions [(η5-E3C2H2)Mo(CO)3]− (E = P (7), As (8)), [{η5-E3C2(C6H5)2}Mo(CO)3]− (E = P (9), As (10)), and [{η5-E3C2H(C6H5)}Mo(CO)3]− (E = P (11), As (12)).

We describe a facile synthesis of the cyaphocyanamide salt [Na(18-crown-6)][N(CN)(CP)] from reaction of [Na(18-crown-6)][PH 2 ] (18-crown-6 = 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) with dimethyl N-cyanocarbonimidate, (MeO) 2 C=N(CN). The reaction proceeds with elimination of two equivalents of methanol. Careful tuning of the reaction conditions allowed for the isolation and characterization of the N-cyano(carboximidate)phosphide intermediate [HP{C-(OMe)N(CN)}] À . Due to the adverse effects of methanol in these reaction mixtures, a bulk scale synthesis of [Na(18crown-6)][N(CN)(CP)] could be achieved by addition of a base (LiHMDS) to neutralize the resulting alcohol. Further reactivity studies of this anion reveal that functionalization at the phosphorus atom is viable to yield a new family of cyanidefunctionalised phosphorus heterocycles. Scheme 1. Formation of ions 1 and 2 from reaction of NaPH 2 with dimethyl cyanocarbonimidate.

We describe a facile synthesis of the cyaphocyanamide salt [Na(18-crown-6)][N(CN)(CP)] from reaction of [Na(18-crown-6)][PH 2 ] (18-crown-6 = 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) with dimethyl N-cyanocarbonimidate, (MeO) 2 C=N(CN). The reaction proceeds with elimination of two equivalents of methanol. Careful tuning of the reaction conditions allowed for the isolation and characterization of the N-cyano(carboximidate)phosphide intermediate [HP{C-(OMe)N(CN)}] À . Due to the adverse effects of methanol in these reaction mixtures, a bulk scale synthesis of [Na(18crown-6)][N(CN)(CP)] could be achieved by addition of a base (LiHMDS) to neutralize the resulting alcohol. Further reactivity studies of this anion reveal that functionalization at the phosphorus atom is viable to yield a new family of cyanidefunctionalised phosphorus heterocycles. Scheme 1. Formation of ions 1 and 2 from reaction of NaPH 2 with dimethyl cyanocarbonimidate.