The thermolysis of P-functionalized 7-phosphanorbornadiene tungsten complexes 3a−d
in o-xylene at 120 °C in the presence of various carbonitriles and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) has been investigated. The reaction of complex 3a, 1-piperidino
carbonitrile, and DMAD yielded a product mixture, whereby 2H-1,2-azaphosphole complex
6 was formed in ca. 40−45% yield together with diazaphosphole complexes 7 (ca. 10−15%)
and 8 (ca. 10−15%) and other nonidentified products (ca. 30%). Unfortunately, none of these
products could be separated by column chromatography. In marked contrast, reactions of
7-phosphanorbornadiene tungsten complexes 3a−d with triphenylphosphane-imino carbonitrile and DMAD led to P-functionalized 2H-1,2-azaphosphole complexes 11a−d in good to
excellent yields. Preliminary investigations of decomplexation reactions revealed a remarkable thermal stability of 11a−d: no reaction occurred with bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane
(DPPE) at 140 °C. Preliminary studies of exocyclic P−C bond cleavage reactions of 2H-1,2-azaphosphole complexes 11a,b using potassium tert-butanolate (KOtBu) showed instantaneous reactions and color change from yellow to dark red; an intermediate was detected by
31P NMR spectroscopy. Treatment with an excess of methyl iodide led to one major product,
which, most probably, is the N-methyl-substituted 1H-1,2-azaphosphole complex 13;
unfortunately, chromatography failed and it could only be observed by 31P NMR spectroscopy.
A comparative study on P−C bond cleavage/methylation reactions using monofunctional
2H-1,3,2-diazaphosphole complex 14 and the system KOtBu/methyl iodide showed the
selective formation of the P-methyl-substituted 2H-1,3,2-diazaphosphole complex 16;
complexes 14 and 16 were prepared using the Cu(I)Cl route. Complexes 11a−d, 14, and 16
were characterized by elemental analyses, NMR, UV/vis, IR, and mass spectroscopy and, in
addition, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the case of 11a−d. Additionally, we
investigated selected isomers of lithium and potassium 1,2-azaphospholides by ab initio
calculations using HF and MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory; stability, structure, and
aromaticity aspects are discussed.