Synthesis of crown ether complexes of alkali-metallated organophosphine oxides and insertion reactions with isonitriles

Abstract

The synthesis and crystal structures of the alkali-metallated organophosphine oxides [{Ph 2P(O)CH 2}K · 18-crown-6] ( 1) and [{Ph 2P(O)CH 2}Na · 15-crown-5] ( 2) are reported. In addition the insertion reaction of an isonitrile into the C–Li bond of [{Ph 2P(O)CH 2}Li] is reported and the crystal structure of the resulting tetrameric complex [Ph 2P(O)CH CHN(Cy)Li] 4 ( 3) (Cy = Cyclohexyl) described.