Phosphorus–heteroatom bond cleavage by ytterbium metal. Synthesis of mono(η5-tetramethylphospholyl)ytterbium(II) chloride and thiolate complexes and structural characterisation of [Yb(µ-Cl)(η5-C4Me4P)(thf)2]2and [Yb(µ-SPh)(η5-C4Me4P)(thf)2]2

Abstract

The structurally characterised [Yb(µ-Cl)(η5-C4Me4P)(thf)2]22 and [Yb(µ-SPh)(η5-C4Me4P)(thf)2]24 can be easily prepared by direct cleavage of the P–Cl or P–S bonds of respectively 1-chloro- and 1-phenylthio-2,3,4,5-tetramethylphosphole by ytterbium metal in thf at room temperature, while 4 can also be prepared by reaction of 2 with NaSPh.