The reaction of [Zr(TrenDMBS)(Cl)] [Zr1; TrenDMBS=N(CH2CH2NSiMe2But)3] with NaPH2 gave the terminal parent phosphanide complex [Zr(TrenDMBS)(PH2)] [Zr2; Zr−P=2.690(2) Å]. Treatment of Zr2 with one equivalent of KCH2C6H5 and two equivalents of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 ether (B15C5) afforded an unprecedented example (outside of matrix isolation) of a structurally authenticated transition‐metal terminal parent phosphinidene complex [Zr(TrenDMBS)(PH)][K(B15C5)2] [Zr3; Zr=P=2.472(2) Å]. DFT calculations reveal a polarized‐covalent Zr=P double bond, with a Mayer bond order of 1.48, and together with IR spectroscopic data also suggest an agostic‐type Zr⋅⋅⋅HP interaction [∡ZrPH=66.7°] which is unexpectedly similar to that found in cryogenic, spectroscopically observed phosphinidene species. Surprisingly, computational data suggest that the Zr=P linkage is similarly polarized, and thus as covalent, as essentially isostructural U=P and Th=P analogues.

Well-defined transition-metal phosphinidene complexes (L n M = PR) are of interest owing to ad esire to better understand their bonding and PR-group transfer chemistry. [1,2] However, although such complexes were first reported three decades ago, [3] they remain ar elatively rare class of metal-ligand multiple bond. This relative paucity reflects the inherent nature of the phosphinidene functional group,which as af ree moiety is very reactive due to the P-triplet ground state and unsaturated valence shell.[4] Stabilization of aphosphinidene by metal-coordination is an attractive strategy, [1] but normally also demands as terically bulky group at phosphorus to kinetically stabilize the M=PR linkage.Indeed, it is notable that under ambient conditions all isolable transition-metal phosphinidene complexes exhibit sterically demanding Rg roups to kinetically protect these vulnerable M=PR bonds; [3,[5][6][7][8][9] in abroader sense the only exceptions are where fundamental, elegant species such as H 2 M = PH (M = Ti,Z r, and Hf) have been prepared and spectroscopically observed under cryogenic conditions.[10] Early transitionmetal phosphinidene complexes are perhaps the most developed of all metal-phosphinidenes,s oi ti ss urprising that an early transition-metal parent phosphinidene has not yet been realized under ambient conditions.Recently,a spart of our work on actinide-ligand multiple bonds, [11] we reported uranium and thorium phosphinidene complexes using the parent phosphinidene (HP) 2À , [12] despite the large triplet-singlet energy gap of approximately 22 kcal mol À1 for free PH, [4g] which had previously only been seldom observed as af leeting spectroscopic intermediate or probed theoretically.[4] Those two actinide complexes are the only two M = PH complexes yet isolated outside cryogenic spectroscopic experiments,a nd were supported by the very sterically demanding triamidoamine ligand N(CH 2 CH 2 NSiPr

Exploring the coordination of plutonium and mixed plutonyluranyl complexes of imidodiphosphinates.