Formation of osmium nitrile complexes and phosphinimine complexes from n-aroylphosphinimines

Abstract

Osmium(III) nitrile complexes of the type OsCl 3-(NCAr)(PPh 3) 2 (Ar = phenyl, p-tolyl) are formed by the action of aromatic nitriles or N-aroylphosphinimines on OsCl 4(PPh 3) 2 in refluxing p-xylene Osmium(II) nitrile and phosphinimine complexes. ▪ OsCl 2(NCAr) 2(PPh 3) 2 and OsCl 2(ArCNPPh 3)- (PPh 3) 2, are similarly formed by the action of the respective nitriles or phosphinimines on OsO 2Cl 2-(PPh 3) 2. Depending on reaction conditions, triphenylphosphine converts OsO 2Cl 2(PPh 3) 2 to OsCl 4-(PPh 3) 2 or to OsCl 2(PPh 3) 3 which are useful starting materials for syntheses of a variety of osmium carbonyl, nitrile and hydride complexes.