Transition metal phosphido complexes
A transition metal phosphido complex is a
Synthesis
One can generate transition-metal phosphido complexes by direct activation of P-H bonds, as mostly seen in the late-transition-metal complexes. For example, the reaction of Vaska's complex analogs with the parent phosphine generate the following transition-metal phosphido complex.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Example_3_for_the_synthesis_of_phosphido_complex.png/424px-Example_3_for_the_synthesis_of_phosphido_complex.png)
Alkali metal phosphides sometimes reduce the metal center.[3]
The alternative salt metathesis route involves the reaction of alkali metal diorganophosphides with metal halides. A typical phosphide reagent is lithium diphenylphosphide.[4]
Structure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/CAVSOH.svg/144px-CAVSOH.svg.png)
Most complexes of the phosphide ligand can be classified into one of three structural classes:
- those where the phosphide is a terminal ligand and phosphorus is pyramidal,
- those where the phosphide is a terminal ligand and phosphorus is planar,
- those where the phosphide is a bridging ligand and phosphorus is tetrahedral.
Pyramidal terminal phosphido ligands
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Examples_of_pyramidal_phosphido_complex.png/220px-Examples_of_pyramidal_phosphido_complex.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Examples_of_the_inversion_of_configuration_at_phosphorous_in_phosphido_complex.png/571px-Examples_of_the_inversion_of_configuration_at_phosphorous_in_phosphido_complex.png)
In most complexes with terminal phosphido ligands, phosphorus is pyramidal, as expected with a stereochemically active lone pair of electrons. The M-P bond length in the pyramidal phosphide complex is longer than the M-P bond length in corresponding
The inversion of configuration at pyramidal terminal phosphides has been observed by 31P NMR spectroscopy.[8][9]
Planar terminal phosphido ligands
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Two_resonance_structure_of_phosphido_complex.png/300px-Two_resonance_structure_of_phosphido_complex.png)
Planar terminal phosphido ligands are also known.[10] Terminal planar phosphido ligands engage in M-P multiple bonding. Planar phosphido complexes usually have shorter M-P bonds and wider M-P-R angles. In the tungsten complex, the W-PHPh bond is 0.26 Å shorter than W-PEt3 bond in the same complex, and the W-P-C angle is 140°.[11] In (C5H5)2Hf(PR2)2, which can be prepared by salt metathesis from hafnocene dichloride, Hf(IV) is bonded to both planar and pyramidal phosphido ligands. These ligand types interconvert on the NMR timescale corresponding to an activation energy of about 8 kcal/mol. According to X-ray crystallography, the Hf-P distances are 2.488 (planar P) and 2.682 Å (pyramidal P).[12]
Bridging phosphido ligands
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/DATJUE.svg/250px-DATJUE.svg.png)
In most of its complexes, the phosphido ligand is a bridging ligand. No lone pairs remain on phosphorus. These complexes have the formula [M(μ-PR2)Ln]2. One example is [Fe(μ-PPh2)(CO)3]2. Phosphido ligands are often installed by salt metathesis reactions. Sources of R2P+ and R2P− are provided by phosphorus halides and alkali metal phosphides respectively. Illustrative of the use of R2PCl-like reagents is the synthesis of a diiron diphosphide:[14]
- Na2Fe2(CO)8 + 2 Ph2PCl → Fe2(PPh2)2(CO)6 + 2 NaCl + 2 CO
Role in catalysis
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Catalytic_cycle_for_enantioselective_phosphine_ligand_synthesis_by_using_phosphido_complex_intermediate.png/336px-Catalytic_cycle_for_enantioselective_phosphine_ligand_synthesis_by_using_phosphido_complex_intermediate.png)
Metal phosphido complexes are intermediates the catalytic
Metal phosphides have been used in the synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphines by exploiting the high nucleophilicity in the pyramidal phosphide complex.[17][1]