The cationic complex (η 4 -1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclobutadienyl)cobalt(trisacetonitrile), [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co-(NCCH 3 ) 3 ] + (1), allows the stepwise introduction of suitable phosphine precursors to the [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co] + fragment by replacement of the labile acetonitrile ligands. These reactions give rise to the piano-stool complexes [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co(dppe)-(NCCH 3 )] + (2), [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co(dppe)(PH 2 Ph)] + (3), [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co(dfppb)(NCCH 3 )] + (4), and [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co(dfppb)-(PH 2 Ph)] + (5), where dfppb = 1,2-bis{di(2-fluorophenyl)phosphino}benzene and dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane. Complex 5 is a template for the synthesis of the P 3 macrocycle complex [(η 4 -C 4 Me 4 )Co{1,4-bis(2-fluorophenyl)-7-phenyl[b,e,h]tribenzo-1,4,7-triphosphacyclononane}] + (6), through base-promoted intramolecular macrocyclization. The hydrogens of two of the ring methyls of the tetramethylcyclobutadienyl ligand in the macrocycle complex 6 are sufficiently acidic to undergo deprotonation by KO t Bu, promoting nucleophilic attack at the fluorine-bearing ortho-carbons of the 2-fluoroaryl groups on two of the phosphorus donors in 6. The resultant hemi-incarcerand complex [{η 4 ,κP,κP,κP-Me 2 C 4 -[1,4-bis(2-CH 2 C 6 H 4 )-7-C 6 H 5 -[b,e,h]tribenzo-1,4,7-triphosphacyclononane]-1,2}Co] + (cis-7) contains a hybrid phosphorus/carbon donor ligand where the P 3 macrocycle is connected to the cyclobutadienyl function through two cis-2-methylphenyl links. The new complexes have been characterized fully by spectroscopic and analytical techniques including single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and cis-7.
■ INTRODUCTIONIn contrast to triaza and trithia macrocycles with variable ring sizes, related P-donor triphospha macrocycle ligands, which may have the ability to stabilize low and unusual metal oxidation states, remain rare. The common method of combining suitably functionalized precursors in dilute solution to yield the desired macrocycle cannot be applied easily to the synthesis of phosphorus macrocycles because of experimental difficulties associated with handling the often volatile, noxious, toxic, and air-sensitive phosphine precursors and intermediates. Aside from the necessary need for large volumes of solvent, a further drawback of the direct method is a lack of stereochemical control, which results in an isomeric mixture of phosphamacrocycles due to the relatively high inversion energy barrier at P; this has recently been confirmed in the highdilution solution synthesis of 1,4,7-triphenyl-1,4,7-triphosphacyclononane (9-aneP 3 Ph 3 ). 1 Template methods provide a means of controlling the stereochemistry but are often hampered by difficulties associated with the release of the macrocycle. Details of successful direct and template approaches to macrocyclic phosphines and aspects of their coordination chemistry appear in a recent review by Swor and Tyler. 2 Much of our interest in triphosphorus macrocycles stems from their expected ability to form thermodynamically and kinetical...