The reactivity of N-heterocyclic diphospholenes towards iron triad carbonyls

The reactivity of phenanthro-[9,10]-(1,3,2)-diazadiphospholenes towards iron triad carbonyls has been studied. Diphospholenes were found to react with cobalt octacarbonyl and diiron nonacarbonyl as phosphinyl radicals. Reaction with nickel carbonyl proceeds with the initial coordination of the diphospholenes to the metal ion as Lewis bases. The obtained compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, and their structure was established using X-ray structural analysis. DFT computational studies investigated the bonding nature in new compounds. Monomeric and dimeric NHP complexes were prepared by reaction of N-heterocyclic diphospholene with Fe, Co and Ni carbonyls.