The syntheses of the phosphane complexes M(CO)5PH3 (M = Mo, W), W(CO)5PD3, and W(CO)5PF3 and the results of X-ray structure analyses of W(CO)5PH3 and Mo(CO)5PCl3 are reported. Quantum-chemical DFT calculations of the geometries and M−P bond dissociation energies of M(CO)5PX3 (M = Cr, Mo, W; X = H, Me, F, Cl) have been carried out. There is no correlation between the bond lengths and bond dissociation energies of the M−P bonds. The PMe3 ligand forms the strongest and the longest M−P bonds of the phosphane ligands. The analysis of M−PX3 bonds shows that PCl3 is a poorer σ donor and a stronger π(P) acceptor than the other phosphanes. The energy decomposition analysis indicates that the M−P bonds of the PH3 and PMe3 complexes have a higher electrostatic than covalent character. The electrostatic contribution is between 56 and 66% of the total attractive interactions. The orbital interactions in the M−PH3 and M−PMe3 bonds have more σ character (65−75%) than π character (25−35%). The M−P bonds of the halophosphane complexes M(CO)5PF3 and M(CO)5PCl3 are nearly half covalent and half electrostatic. The π bonding contributes ∼50% to the total orbital interaction.

X-ray structure determinations of tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)diphosphane (2c, mp -82 degrees C, triclinic, P&onemacr;; Z = 1, a = 529.7(3) pm, b = 681.6(2) pm, c = 802.8(3) pm, alpha = 108.58(1) degrees, beta = 99.66(1) degrees, gamma = 103.29(1) degrees, wR2 = 0.204) and -diarsane (3c, mp -52 degrees C, monoclinic, P2(1)/c; Z = 2, a = 769.5(3) pm, b = 750.0(3) pm, c = 960.7(2) pm, beta = 105.26(1) degrees, wR2 = 0.115), both at -100(3) degrees C, reveal the molecules to adopt the trans conformation in the solid. Compared with the tetramethyl derivatives, the E-E (224.6(2)/246.3(1) pm, E = P, As) and E-C (188.3(4)/201.3(7) pm) bonds are elongated by 4.5/4.8 pm and 3.4/3.4 pm, respectively. From gas electron diffraction studies of diphosphane 2c a mixture of 85(10)% trans and 15(10)% gauche conformers can be deduced; diarsane 3c shows the trans form exclusively. The molecular parameters (E-E, 224.8(11)/245.2(6); E-C, 189.6(4)/ 201.2(4) pm) agree excellently with those determined for the crystalline state. As a result of quantum chemical calculations at Hartree-Fock and hybrid density functional levels of theory using 6-311+G basis sets, the gauche conformer of hydrazine derivative 1c and the trans conformer of diarsane 3c are clearly lowest in energy. However, for diphosphane 2c the gauche and not the trans form is found to be slightly more stable. Variations of calculated E-E and E-C bond lengths are analyzed and compared with corresponding values of the parent compounds E(2)H(4) (1a to 3a) as well as the tetramethyl derivatives 1b to 3b.

Isolable mono(metallo)stibanes of the type [M]Sb(CF3)2 ([M] = (CO)5Mn (3a), (CO)5Re (3b), Cp(CO)3Cr (3c), Cp(CO)3Mo (3d), C5Me5(CO)3W (3e)) are formed quantitatively by reactions of Sb(CF3)3 (1) with the corresponding hydride complexes [M]H (2) with elimination of trifluoromethane. Structural analyses of the derivatives 3a and 3e by X-ray diffraction show a considerable shortening of the M−Sb bonds in comparison with the sum of the single bond radii. In the crystal lattice of 3a a significant intermolecular Sb···Sb interaction of pairs of molecules is observed.