Deprotonation of aminophosphaalkenes (RMe(2)Si)(2)C=PN(H)(R') (R=Me, iPr; R'=tBu, 1-adamantyl (1-Ada), 2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2) (Mes*)) followed by reactions of the corresponding Li salts Li[(RMe(2)Si)(2)C=P(M)(R')] with one equivalent of the corresponding P-chlorophosphaalkenes (RMe(2)Si)(2)C=PCl provides bisphosphaalkenes (2,4-diphospha-3-azapentadienes) [(RMe(2)Si)(2)C=P](2)NR'. The thermally unstable tert-butyliminobisphosphaalkene [(Me(3)Si)(2)C=P](2)NtBu (4 a) undergoes isomerisation reactions by Me(3)Si-group migration that lead to mixtures of four-membered heterocyles, but in the presence of an excess amount of (Me(3)Si)(2)C=PCl, 4 a furnishes an azatriphosphabicyclohexene C(3)(SiMe(3))(5)P(3)NtBu (5) that gave red single crystals. Compound 5 contains a diphosphirane ring condensed with an azatriphospholene system that exhibits an endocylic P=C double bond and an exocyclic ylidic P((+))-C((-))(SiMe(3))(2) unit. Using the bulkier iPrMe(2)Si substituents at three-coordinated carbon leads to slightly enhanced thermal stability of 2,4-diphospha-3-azapentadienes [(iPrMe(2)Si)(2)C=P](2)NR' (R'=tBu: 4 b; R'=1-Ada: 8). According to a low-temperature crystal-structure determination, 8 adopts a non-planar structure with two distinctly differently oriented P=C sites, but (31)P NMR spectra in solution exhibit singlet signals. (31)P NMR spectra also reveal that bulky Mes* groups (Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) at the central imino function lead to mixtures of symmetric and unsymmetric rotamers, thus implying hindered rotation around the P-N bonds in persistent compounds [(RMe(2)Si)(2)C=P](2)NMes* (11 a, 11 b). DFT calculations for the parent molecule [(H(3)Si)(2)C=P](2)NCH(3) suggest that the non-planar distortion of compound 8 will have steric grounds.

Metalation of the aminophosphaalkene (iPrMe 2 Si) 2 C=PN(H)-SiMe 3 (2) with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF solution, followed by the reaction of the lithium salt 3 with the Pchlorophosphaalkenes (RMe 2 Si) 2 C=PCl (1a, R = Me; 1b, R = iPr; 1c, R = Ph), furnishes the first N-silylimino-bridged bis (phosphaalkenes)

Hydrolytic cleavage of the P-chlorophosphaalkenes (RMe2Si)2C=PCl (R = Me: 1a; R = iPr: 1b) in the presence of triethylamine leads to di(phosphavinyl) ethers (2,4-diphospha-3-oxapentadienes) [(RMe2Si)2C=P]2O (2a, 2b) as main products, accompanied by alkylphosphinic acids (RMe2Si)2(H)CP(H)(O)OH (3a, 3b). The hydrolysis of (PhMe2Si)2C=PCl (1c) proceeds less selectively. Reactions with metal oxides under aprotic conditions provide 2a [impure, from 1a with (nBu3Sn)2O] and 2b [from iodophosphaalkene (iPrMe2Si)2C=PI with Ag2O] as oils. 1H, 13C, 29Si and 31P NMR spectra, however, allow unambiguous characterisation of 2a and 2b. Formation mechanisms, structure, and C=P-O π stabilisation of the oxabisphosphaalkene [(H3Si)2C=P]2O (2ʹ) were studied with DFT methods. The double [2+4] cycloaddition reaction of 2a with two equivalents of cyclopentadiene leads to the phosphinous anhydride 7 as a mixture of diastereomers whereas the addition of two equivalents of tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone proceeds in a diastereoselective fashion. An X-ray crystal structure determination of the resulting oxo-bridged bis(2-phospha-2,5-dioxa-3,4-benzophospholene) derivative 8 revealed the presence of a racemic mixture of (R,R)- and (S,S)-configurated molecules. The solid state structure of a by-product, bisylphosphonic tetrachlorocatechol monoester (Me3Si)2CH-P(=O)(OH)-o-OC6Cl4OH 9, was also determined crystallographically.

Deprotonation of the aminophosphanes Ph2PN(H)R 1a–1h [R = tBu (1a), 1‐adamantyl (1b), iPr (1c), CPh3 (1d), Ph (1e), 2,4,6‐Me3C6H2 (Mes) (1f), 2,4,6‐tBu3C6H2 (Mes*) (1g), 2,6‐iPr2C6H3 (DIPP) (1h)], followed by reactions of the phosphanylamide salts Li[Ph2PNR] 2a, 2b, 2g, and 2h with the P‐chlorophosphaalkene (Me3Si)2C=PCl, and of 2a–2g with (iPrMe2Si)2C=PCl, gave the isolable P‐phosphanylamino phosphaalkenes (Me3Si)2C=PN(R)PPh2 3a, 3b, 3g, and (iPrMe2Si)2C=PN(R)PPh2 4a–4g. 31P NMR spectra, supported by X‐ray structure determinations, reveal that in compounds 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b, with bulky N‐alkyl groups the Si2C=P–N–P skeleton is non‐planar (orthogonal conformation), whereas 3g, 3h, and 4g with bulky N‐aryl groups exhibit planar conformations of the Si2C=P–N–P skeleton. Solid 3g and 4g exhibit cisoid orientation of the planar C=P–N–C units (planar I) but in solid 3h the transoid rotamer is present (planar II). From 3g, 4d, and 4g mixtures of rotamers were detected in solution by pairs of 31P NMR patterns (3h: line broadening).

Reactions of P-chlorophosphaalkenes (RMe 2 Si) 2 C=PCl (1a: R = Me; 1b: R = Ph) with the disilane Me 3 SiSiCl 3 (5) furnish diphosphenes (Cl 3 Si)(RMe 2 Si) 2 C-P=P-C(SiCl 3 )(SiMe 2 R) 2 (4a: R = Me; 4b: R = Ph) by Me 3 SiCl elimination. The structure of the new compound 4b was confirmed by X-ray diffraction; it displays crystallographic inversion symmetry. Monitoring the reactions with 31 P-and 29 Si-NMR spectroscopy detected P-(trichlorosilyl)phosphaalkenes (RMe 2 Si) 2 C=PSiCl 3 (2a, R = Me; 2b, R = Ph) as the primary intermediates from reductive P-silylation of 4a, 4b, and P- [(trichlorosilyl)phosphanyl]phosphaalkenes (RMe 2 Si) 2 C=P-P(SiCl 3 )C(SiCl 3 )(SiMe 2 R) 2 (3a: R = Me; 3b: R = Ph) as unsymmetric dimerisation products that