The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of organoyttrium phosphides toward phenyl isocyanate (PhNCO) and phenyl isothiocyanate (PhNCS) are described. Reaction of (TpMe2)CpYCH2Ph(THF) (TpMe2 = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate; Cp = C5H5) with 1 equiv of HPPh2 in THF at ambient temperature gives an organoyttrium phosphide (TpMe2)CpYPPh2(THF) (1). Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of PhNCO in THF at ambient temperature results in monoinsertion of PhNCO into the Y–P σ-bond to yield complex (TpMe2)CpY[OC(PPh2)NPh](THF) (2), whereas reaction of 1 with 2 equiv of PhNCO affords the PhNCO diinsertion product (TpMe2)CpY[OC(PPh2)N(Ph)C(O)NPh] (4). However, reaction of 1 with PhNCS under the same conditions is independent of the stoichiometric ratio and gives only the monoinsertion product (TpMe2)CpY[SC(PPh2)NPh] (3). Moreover, 1 can effectively catalyze the cyclotrimerization of PhNCO under mild conditions, but does not catalyze the cyclotrimerization of PhNCS. In addition, the reaction of Cp2LnPPh2(THF) with PhNCS affords the insertion products Cp2Ln[SC(PPh2)NPh](THF) (Ln = Y (6), Er (7), Dy (8)). All new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and/or 1H, 13C and 31P NMR, and their solid-state structures, except 4, were determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These reactions represent the first example of isocyanate and isothiocyanate insertions into the Ln–P σ-bond and provide an efficient method for the construction of phosphaureido, phosphadiureido, and phosphathioureido ligands.

A terminal alkyne-assisted protocol for the one-pot formation of a diverse range of arylamidines from a novel cascade reaction of in situ generated nitrile oxides, sulfonyl azides, terminal alkynes, and water by [3 + 2] cycloaddition and ring opening sequence was developed. The use of aryl oxime chlorides as the carbon source of the amidine group and the addition of water proved to be critical for the reaction. Moreover, terminal alkynes, which can lead to high yields of products by employing a less amount, may play a catalytic role in the reaction. A broader range of substrates was investigated.

Tp(Me2)LnCl(2) (1) reacts with 2 equiv of KN(SiMe(3))(2) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature to yield the ligand redistribution/gamma-deprotonation products [(Tp(Me2))(2)Ln](+)[((Me(3)Si)(2)N)(2)Ln(CH(2))SiMe(2)N(SiMe(3))](-) [Ln = Er (2), Y (3)]. Complex 2 can also be obtained by reacting [(Me(3)Si)(2)N](2)ErCl with KTp(Me2). However, 1 reacts with 1.5 and 1 equiv of KN(SiMe(3))(2) to yield [(Tp(Me2))(2)Er](+)[((Me(3)Si)(2)N)(3)ErCl](-) (4) and [(Tp(Me2))(2)Er](+){[(Me(3)Si)(2)N)Tp(Me2)ErCl](2)(mu-Cl)(2)K}(-) (5), respectively. Furthermore, it is found that 2 reacts with 2 equiv of CyN=C=NCy (Cy = cyclohexyl) to give the tandem HN(SiMe(3))(2) elimination and Ln-C insertion product (Tp(Me2))Er[(CyN)(2)CCH(2)SiMe(2)N(SiMe(3))] (6) in 71% isolated yield. The results reveal that the gamma-deprotonation degree of advancement increases with an increase of the steric hindrance around the central metal ion. All new complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties, and their solid-state structures have also been determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

A series of unusual chemical-bond transformations were observed in the reactions of high active yttrium-dialkyl complexes with unsaturated small molecules. The reaction of scorpionate-anchored yttrium-dibenzyl complex [Tp(Me2)Y(CH2Ph)2(thf)] (1, Tp(Me2)=tri(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with phenyl isothiocyanate led to C=S bond cleavage to give a cubane-type yttrium-sulfur cluster, {Tp(Me2)Y(μ3-S)}4 (2), accompanied by the elimination of PhN-C(CH2Ph)2. However, compound 1 reacted with phenyl isocyanate to afford a C(sp(3)) H activation product, [Tp(Me2)Y(thf){μ-η(1):η(3)-OC(CHPh)NPh}{μ-η(3):η(2)-OC(CHPh)NPh}YTp(Me2)] (3). Moreover, compound 1 reacted with phenylacetonitrile at room temperature to produce γ-deprotonation product [(Tp(Me2))2Y](+)[Tp(Me2)Y(N=C=CHPh)3](-) (6), in which the newly formed N=C=CHPh ligands bound to the metal through the terminal nitrogen atoms. When this reaction was carried out in toluene at 120 °C, it gave a tandem γ-deprotonation/insertion/partial-Tp(Me2)-degradation product, [(Tp(Me2)Y)2(μ-Pz)2{μ-η(1):η(3)-NC(CH2Ph)CHPh}] (7, Pz=3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl).

The mixed TpMe2/Cp-supported yttrium monoalkyl (TpMe2)CpYCH2Ph(THF) (1) reacted with 1 equiv of PhCN in THF at room temperature to afford the imine–enamine tautomer (TpMe2)CpY(N(H)C(Ph)CHPh)(THF) (2) and the insertion product (TpMe2)CpY(NC(CH2Ph)Ph)(THF) (3), in 61% and 12% isolated yields, respectively. 2 further reacted with PhCN in toluene at 120 °C to give the N–H bond addition product (TpMe2)CpY(N(H)C(Ph)NC(Ph)CHPh) (4). Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of anthranilonitrile produced the dimer [(TpMe2)CpY(μ-NHC6H4CN)]2 (5). The monomer product (TpMe2)CpY(NHC6H4CN)(HMPA) (6) can be obtained through the coordination of HMPA (hexamethylphosphoric triamide). The reaction of 5 with 1 in THF at room temperature gave the cyano group insertion product [(TpMe2)CpY(THF)]2(μ-NHC6H4C(CH2Ph)N) (7). However, this reaction under the heating conditions gave an unexpected rearrangement product, (TpMe2)CpY(THF)(η2-NHC6H4C(CH2Ph)NH) (8). 5 further reacted with o-aminobenzonitrile at 120 °C to afford the nucleophilic addition/cyclization product TpMe2Y[κ3-(4-NH(C8N2H4)(2-NHC6H4)](HMPA) (9), accompanied with the elimination of the Cp ring. These results indicated that the yttrium alkyl complex exhibits high activity toward organic nitriles and reveals some unusual transformations during the insertion process. All these new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods, and their solid-state structures were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.