Unusual Reactivity of Sodium Tetramesityltetraphosphanediide towards Cyclohexyl Isocyanide

Abstract

The reaction of [Na₂ (thf)₄ (P₄ Mes₄ )] (Mes=2,4,6-Me₃ C₆ H₂ ) with cyclohexyl isocyanide (2:5) resulted in the formation of the heterocyclic N-(tetramesityltetraphosphacyclopentylidene)cyclohexylamine [cyclo-{P₄ Mes₄ C(NCy)}] (2) (30-35 %), the unusual 1,3,5-triphospha-1,4-pentadiene (3) (40-45 %), and small amounts of the dimeric iminomethylidenephosphane cyclo-{PMesC(NCy)}₂ (4). With catalytic amounts of AgBF₄ , 2 was the major product. The reaction of 2 with [CuBr(SMe₂ )] (1:1) produced bromido-bridged dimeric Cu^I complex 5. Molecular structures of compounds 3, 4, and 5 were obtained.

Keywords: copper; heterocycles; oligophosphanides; phosphorus; triphosphapentadiene.