Reaction of (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(tert-butylimino)-phosphane with tris(acetonitrile)tricarbonylmolybdenum(0): evidence for a metalloiminophosphane intermediate

Abstract

(η1-Me5C5)P=N(t-Bu) (1) was prepared in a two-step synthesis from Me5C5PCl2. Reaction of 1 with (MeCN)3Mo(CO)3 affords the spirocyclic compound (η1-Me5C5PN(t-Bu)PN(T-Bu)C(O)Mo(CO)2(η5-C5Me5) (5), whose structure was determined by x-ray crystallography. A metalloiminophosphine, (η5-Me5C5)(CO)3MoP=N(t-Bu) (7), is proposed to be the key intermediate in the formation of 5.