A Three‐Membered Cyclic Phosphasilene

Small unsaturated phosphacycles are versatile reagents due to their strain and the added functionality of the double bond and the phosphorus lone pair. Here we report the synthesis and isolation of the smallest possible cyclic phosphasilene as a stable adduct with an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC). First reactivity studies show (a) that the PSi₂ ring is a competent ligand to the Fe(CO)₄ fragment via the phosphorus lone pair and (b) that the abstraction of the NHC by BPh₃ results in the rapid head‐to‐head or head‐to‐tail dimerization of the PSi₂ unit. The relatively facile NHC cleavage indicates that the P=Si double bond is available for further manipulation.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2GaJUls