Complexes of Azaphospholes: Synthesis and Structure of Pentacarbonyl-(η1)-2-phosphaindolizine)chromium(0), -molybdenum(0), and -tungsten(0)

Abstract

The complex chemical behaviour of 2-phosphaindolizines 1 (1,3-azaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridines) towards metal carbonyl compounds was studied. (η1-2-Phosphaindolizine)M(CO)5 complexes 2–4 (M = Cr, Mo, W) were formed from 1 and [(THF)M(CO)5], the cis-L2Cr(CO)4 complex 5f from 1f and tetracarbonyl(norbornadiene) chromium(0). The reaction of 2-phosphaindolizines 1e, 1f, or 1g with tricarbonyl(cycloheptatriene)molybdenum(0) or tricarbonyl(mesitylene)tungsten(0) yielded σ-complexes of the types L2M(CO)4or L3M(CO)3 rather than isolable π-complexes. In one case a strong upfield signal (δ31P = 6.1) was observed with a coordination shift of Δδ = –161.7, which is typical for π-coordination. Prolonged reaction or work-up led, however, to dismutation yielding 1g and the fac-L3Mo(CO)3 complex 6g. X-ray structure analysis of 2a indicates an increased 10π-delocalization compared with 1a and a changed conformation of the acyl substituent. The influence of substituents and metals on the 31P and 13C complexation chemical shifts and coupling constants is discussed.